808-485-2444Your orthodontic braces were installed in your mouth by Dr. Erik TinHan to gradually correct the alignment of your teeth. This process requires routine adjustments to tighten your braces and gradually move your teeth into their ideal position. This will reduce your chances of suffering dental attrition and dental fractures, while also improving your smile’s appearance.
Maintaining your braces and good oral hygiene throughout the realignment process is very important. If some part of your braces is damaged or you suffer multiple cavities, it could alter the tension on your braces. This could increase the amount of time it takes to properly correct the alignment of your teeth.
You might appreciate the small angles brush head of interdental brushes to help clean hard to reach areas of your mouth. It can help you remove food particles from braces hardware and the contours of your teeth. A simple water flosser like Waterpik® can be helpful for loosening food particles from hard to reach places and cleaning material from your gumline. However, this is not an effective alternative to traditional dental floss and its ability to physically clear away plaque and food matter.
If you’re having problems flossing around wires and other braces hardware, you might want to try using a floss threader with waxed dental floss. This simple oral hygiene tool can help insert the strand of dental floss around braces hardware allowing you to effectively clean the gumline.
Minor changes in your food choices can also help prevent damage to your braces. If a component is bent or damaged, it could alter the tension on your braces and lengthen the realignment process. Staying away from sticky and hard foods can help maintain the integrity of your braces.
If you are in the Pearl City, Hawaii, area and you have a problem with your braces, call 808-485-2444 to schedule an appointment at TinHan Orthodontics. Let our team help you get the best care for your smile!