February 10, 2020
While every opportunity is available for you to teach your young ones about proper dental hygiene, February itself is a special month wherein professional educators and dental providers alike come together to promote these lessons in both hygiene and care.
In fact, this year marks the 75th Children’s Dental Health Month, meaning it’s the perfect time to participate in a national campaign aimed at helping your child care for their smile!
And particularly where braces come into the picture, hygiene can become much more of a challenge. This is why, in support of Children’s Dental Month, we’re here to help you with some braces basics for your child:
How to Floss with Braces
Flossing with braces is challenging enough for adult patients, let alone for younger children who may not have the dexterity or willpower to truly clean between and around brackets. The good news is that there are a few methods and tools to help speed the process along!
For one, you can always let your child have a seat as you floss their teeth for them, especially if they are too young or are not yet accustomed to flossing with braces.
Otherwise, waxed floss, as well as floss threaders, help to get the job done! Waxed floss is less likely to catch and tear on the metal wires and brackets, whereas the floss threaders will help you to easily weave the strands up between the teeth and to the gum line. Oral irrigators, or devices that use a pressurized stream of water to blast food particles from between your teeth, may also be helpful.
How to Brush with Braces
Before layering on the fluoride toothpaste and setting a two-minute timer, remind your child to remove any rubber bands or other elastic materials from inside their mouth that would otherwise get in the way.
Then, once they go in with their brush, it’s important to clean around the brackets with a soft-bristled toothbrush at a 45-degree angle. Make sure they brush from the top of each wire down, and move the brush itself in firm but gentle circular motions.
Additionally, if your child is having trouble brushing in hard to reach areas due to the wires and brackets, it may help to have them go in with a single-tufted interdental toothbrush that can reach into tight spaces a normal toothbrush cannot.
Once your child has thoroughly brushed, make sure they rinse out any remaining particles and re-insert their rubber bands.
If you have further questions about how to help your child care for their braces, or if you’re ready to schedule their next appointment with an orthodontist your whole family can trust, it’s time to contact SouthShore Orthodontics! Be sure to call our team today at 813-815-0080 for results you can trust in a welcoming environment!