Oral and Dental Care in Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic patients must pay close attention to their oral and dental care. For those who do not have good oral hygiene habits, there are many precautions to prevent the development of stained and unsightly teeth after treatment.

Your dentist will monitor these precautions during your orthodontic treatment and apply them if necessary, typically every six months.

Flossing

Dental floss is a nylon thread used to remove food debris and bacterial plaque between the teeth. Take a sufficient length of floss and pass it in a “C” shape between the wires and brackets.

Wrap the ends of the floss around your two middle fingers a few times, leaving about 3–5 cm in the middle. Using your thumbs, gently guide the floss from the chewing surface between the teeth until it reaches the gum.

Move the floss up and down between the teeth to clean the plaque and food debris from between the teeth and gum pockets.

Do not move the floss back and forth, as this can damage the gums.

Start flossing from one side of your mouth and continue systematically toward the other side.