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If you wear braces, it is much more difficult  to keep your teeth plaque-free and avoid cavities.  It is recommended that you use a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride, and be sure to brush after every meal.  Brush every tooth surface and pay extra attention to the area where the brackets and bands meet the tooth, and where the tooth meets the gumline.  Brush in small circular motions,  two to three teeth at a time.

You must also floss your teeth; toothbrush bristles do not remove the plaque between your teeth.  Thread a length of floss into a floss threader and slide up under your archwire. Then pull the floss between your teeth.  Pull the floss into a C shape, and move around your mouth flossing both sides of each tooth.

After you have finished, check carefully to see if any areas were missed; if so repeat the process, and then rinse thoroughly with plenty of water.

Cutting down on sweets will help prevent cavities; al so avoid sticky, sugary foods. Beware of hard foods such as nuts and ice; they can damage your braces.  Eating softer foods and cutting harder foods into smaller bites is your best bet.

Watching your eating habits and paying careful attention to your daily home care will keep your mouth healthy and your teeth looking good.

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