National Dental Health Month is a great reason to celebrate fall! If you’re undergoing orthodontic work, you doubtlessly know the importance of regular oral hygiene. You also have an advantage in that you frequently make trips to Dr. Cynthia Wong’s Orland Park office. But because Halloween and the holiday season are coming up, we thought it might still be a good idea to remind patients of how to brush and floss properly.
Anybody with teeth needs to brush them twice a day. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that patients can remove their appliances and brush normally or with an electric toothbrush. For people with traditional braces, it gets a bit trickier. Only soft-bristled toothbrushes should be used on teeth. Usually, people should replace toothbrushes every three months, but ones used on braces may wear out sooner. Brush bracketed teeth in a circular motion, making sure you get near the gum line, since that’s where tartar builds up.
There are many kinds of flossers approved by the American Dental Association, but nobody should use improvised devices to pick their teeth. This could hurt the gums and spread disease. People with braces can use threaders to draw floss behind orthodontic wires or use specially-made floss with stiffened ends. When flossing, rub the strand along the side of each tooth down to the gum line and use a sweeping motion to gather up plaque.
You can also protect yourself from bad breath by brushing your tongue and using a scraper on it once per day. Mouthwash can help, too, but it isn’t a substitute for brushing and flossing.
Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.
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