Tag: plaque

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Proper Brushing

Brush the outer side of your teeth. 
It’s the front side of your teeth that are seen when you smile. Don’t forget to remove the plaque along the part of your tooth closest to the gum line.
Begin on the outside of your top teeth. Bite your teeth together. Rub the toothbrush back and forth across your teeth while gradually moving the toothbrush across your top teeth. Make sure you reach all the way back to your molars. Spit if necessary.
Use small circles to brush the braces. Spend at least 25 – 30 seconds on each bracket. You can also use your interdental brush to brush over the tops of your brackets. Most brackets have holes in them (tough to see) so try wiggling the interdental brush down into each bracket.
Brush the crowns of your teeth. Turn your toothbrush perpendicular to the spaces between your teeth. Rub the brush back and forth and also use a circular motion. This helps get the hard to reach crevices that can harbour plaque and food particles.
Brush the inner side of your teeth. Move the toothbrush back and forth, up and down and then with circular motions on the inside of your top and bottom teeth. When you have braces, the inner side of your teeth is usually the easiest to brush because they are not crowded with braces.
Now brush the outside of your bottom teeth. With your teeth still together, gently brush in circular motions. Make sure you move the toothbrush across all your front teeth and back to the outsides of your molars as well. It may be easier to reach the back of your mouth if you open your mouth a little.
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Do I have to brush my retainer?

You would never consider going days without brushing your teeth. However, many retainer wearers go for long periods without cleaning these devices.

The same bacteria that build up on teeth can grow on a retainer. As a result, putting an unclean retainer in your mouth is like applying a bacteria and plaque-laden solution to the teeth and gums.

How to clean your retainer?

When brushing teeth, people should brush their retainer as well. 

It is best to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-whitening toothpaste. Afterwards, remove the retainer and rinse it thoroughly. People should brush their teeth again after removing the retainer to clean any areas covered by it.

What can we do to make you smile?

Enquire about braces > Book a consultation today

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Eating with braces!

What can you eat when you first get braces?

Getting braces doesn’t hurt, but your mouth may be sensitive in the days following your appointment. Therefore, eating foods that have a tougher texture could cause pain.

Since you’ll also have to learn how to chew differently, your orthodontist will likely recommend only eating soft foods for the first few days.

Ideal foods to eat after getting braces include:

  • mashed potatoes
  • yogurt
  • soups
  • scrambled eggs
  • oatmeal
  • grains
  • seafood
  • soft fruits
  • soft cheeses
  • cooked or soft vegetables
  • moist desserts
  • pasta

Basically, anything that’s easy to chew.

What to keep avoiding while you have braces

Be mindful that braces are sensitive to damage, so you’ll need to avoid certain foods for as long as you have braces.

These include sticky and hard foods that can damage the wires or bands or cause a bracket to separate from a tooth.

Foods to completely avoid with braces include:

  • popcorn
  • nuts
  • ice
  • chewing gum
  • hard candy
  • chewy candy
  • pizza crust
  • bagels and other hard rolls
  • crunchy vegetables and fruits
  • hard crackers
  • pretzels
  • chips

Also, limit consumption of sugary foods and drinks while having braces. When sugar mixes with saliva, it creates a sticky film (plaque) that coats the teeth.

Brushing can remove plaque, but that becomes harder to do with braces. And if you’re unable to remove this sticky film, there’s a risk of tooth decay.

What can we do to make you smile?

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Brush Your Teeth

Please, please, please, 

(we can not say it often enough)

Brush Your Teeth.

The best Bachmannsmile lasts only as long as you keep your teeth healthy.

It is important to brush your teeth to prevent gum disease. Refusal to brush one’s teeth for several days can lead to the onset of gum disease. Brushing ensures the removal of plaque, which is the primary cause for tooth decay and gum disease; it also arrests the build-up of any plaque formation.

Tips on Proper Brushing

Dentists say that the minimum time you should spend brushing your teeth is 3 minutes twice a day. Here are some tips on how to brush properly:

  • Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gumline. Gently brush from where the tooth and gum meet to the chewing surface in short (about half-a-tooth-wide) strokes. Brushing too hard can cause receding gums, tooth sensitivity, and, over time, loose teeth.
  • Use the same method to brush all outside and inside surfaces of your teeth.
  • To clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, use short sweeping strokes, tipping the bristles into the pits and crevices.
  • To clean the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front teeth and gums, hold the brush almost vertical. With back and forth motions, bring the front part of the brush over the teeth and gums.
  • Using a forward-sweeping motion, gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove the decay-causing bacteria that exist in these places.
  • Use an egg timer or play a favourite song while brushing your teeth to get used to brushing for a full 3 minutes. Some electronic toothbrushes have timers that let you know when 3 minutes are up.

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Please, please, please, brush Your Teeth.

What can we do to make you smile?

Enquire about braces > Book a consultation today

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