If your teenager recently had braces placed on his or her teeth, you may need to encourage the child to take some extra steps each day for good oral care. Living with braces makes it harder to keep teeth clean, but there are ways your teen can achieve this. Here are a few tips that you should encourage your teen to do to help keep his or her teeth clean and cavity free.
Rinse after eating
One of the problems with braces is that food can easily get trapped in the brackets. If the food remains there, the child can develop bad breath and be at risk for developing more cavities. Your teen can reduce these risks by getting in the habit of rinsing his or her mouth after eating. Rinsing can be as simple as drinking a glass of water after eating, or the teen could actually rinse with mouthwash. This habit will help a little, but it is not the only step needed.
Floss every day
Flossing teeth is not a simple task with braces, but it can be done. Your teen can try using regular floss; however, it might be easier for him or her to floss if you purchase dental picks. These are small devices designed for flossing teeth when a person has braces, and they will make flossing somewhat easier and more effective.
Using a water flosser is another option you could look into. A water flosser sprays water out at with a lot of pressure. This is a great type of tool to use for anyone with braces, because it will help dislodge any trapped food particles that are stuck in the brackets.
Keep up with dental visits
Even though it may seem like a waste of money for your teen to get his or her teeth cleaned while wearing braces, it really isn't. A dental hygienist will be able to thoroughly clean your child's teeth while wearing braces, and this will help keep cavities away. It is slightly harder for a hygienist to clean teeth that have braces on them, but it can still be done. In fact, your child's orthodontist will tell you to make sure your teen visits the dentist regularly to have this done, simply because it does make a difference.
If you would like to learn more about preventing cavities while wearing braces, contact a family dentist today to schedule an appointment.
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