Cleaning teeth with braces?

i just got braces.....i've had them for about 3 days now. i was just needing help on how to keep your teeth clean and healthy with them on? they told me to brush a minimum of 3 times a day, but i'm about to start college and i dont know if i can fit it in 3 times a day. i can twice a day but during the middle of the day i'll usually be busy. could i just rinse my mouth out after eating if i cant brush after lunch? and how do you floss with braces? do you just use that appliance they give you with the small brush or do you have to use regular floss too? if you do, how? i just dont want my teeth to get messed up or get an infection. i brush on the braces on over and under them on the gums and use that brush thing they gave me and i use a fluoride wash. i also heard of a water pick, how much is that? and where can i get one?

Cleaning teeth with braces?
Hey there Buddy and congrats on your being on the way to a great smile!!





here's a link that will inform of everything you need to know about the 101 level of your term with braces, take good care and you'll always be smilin'!!





http://www.archwired.com/braces_101.htm





I bought the braces for my son when he was a teen...his wife nowaday really like his smile...we all do!
Reply:Glad to be of help to you...good luck with your future Dentist appointments!!!! If you follow through on what this website sates to do for proper care, who knows? You may not have to wear the braces as long as you think... Report It

Reply:i know you can get certian tooth brushes
Reply:If you can't brush 3 times a day at least rinse your mouth out with water. Also check your braces for food that might get stuck. That would be gross
Reply:when i had them i just brushed normal and then i brushed on top of the top braces and bottom of the bottom braces! That way you get the food stuck in between better!
Reply:just brush them twice and then at night when you have more time clean them with mouthwash and a flosser in between the braces
Reply:woah woah calm down there. i had braces for 5 yrs. just brush normal and do ur mouthwash stuff if u want. just use ur toothbrush bristles to get in the gaps to keep it clean and stuff. there is also some things u can get to thread floss between the braces just ask ur dentist they will probly give them to u free
Reply:I can help you with this one i have had braces nearly a year. They suck and they hurt. But washing your mouth out with water will help its mailnly to get she sugar amd stuff out. Bring around a little christmas tree brush with you they are really small and can fit in your pocket. Pretty much especialy after eating pizza just stick it up between your braces and it will get them clean till the next you are able to brush your teeth.
Reply:it's a pain in the bum, but for flossing you can get these little threader like things that make it possible to thread the floss up under the wire so you can floss
Reply:just use regular floss, it takes a long time, but hey that's hygiene and brushing them twice a day is okay if you do it carefully, your teeth won't get an infection. if you have any more concerns you should ask your orthodontist since he/she specializes in that area.
Reply:Why can't you carry a collapsible tooth brush in your purse or pocket to use at lunch time?
Reply:Thats what they tell me, i don't and everytime i go back they say "good job brushing" i brush once in the am and once before bed. using a mouthwash helps. just make sure ur brush is soft enough to get out food scraps in ur braces. for floss they should have given you these plastic things w/ loops that help get the floss in between braces.
Reply:it's okay to only brush them 2 times a day (i would recommend having a small tooth brush). there are some things that you can by at a drug store that can help you with flossing your teeth (they kind of look like "i") i don't know about the water pick thing, though.





Good luck with the braces!!
Reply:Continue to brush normally at least 2 times daily.Wait %26amp; C.
Reply:Hi! I've been in dentistry for over 25 years. Brushing 2 times a day is great. But flossing is important as well. The brush they gave you just needs to be used 2 times a day the most important is before bed. The fluoride rinse at bed time and do not rinse or eat, will keep any problems from happening. That is the key. A water pick is NOT necessary if you can use the brush between the braces and the rinse at night. That is really over kill. As long as you keep to the 2 times a day, a very clean mouth at bedtime with the fluoride rinse you will have a fantastic smile and great healthy teeth. Just remember, bedtime is the most important to have your mouth clean because you mouth dries out and if there is any bacteria it will have a field day. YOU are doing all the right things now, keep it up and you will love the results. If you have any other questions, please ask, I will help you in any way that I can. Marie.
Reply:Well, with the braces, because I had them, I remember how unpleasant it was. The outcome made me motivated. No hard candy or food. Don't break the brackets. You don't necessarily have to brush after every meal. Heres a quick tip. Rinse your mouth with water after a meal or a snack. Just swish it around in your mouth and spit. That will help grasp some food stuck in the brackets. You will not get an infection, if you swish your mouth out after a meal. I would lay off meat that clings. Candy, clings and hard candy can break the brackets. Do a hard swish of water in your mouth or a listerine product if you wish, you will keep the bacteria out and your teeth will remain healthy with the braces on. A swish of water between meals is just effective as having a water pick. Save your money. Swish the water from cheek to cheek and spit.
Reply:waterpiks are great, i used one when i had braces. you can get one for about $40. go to www.waterpik.com to find a store near you that sells them. also, keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in your backpack so you can brush at school.
Reply:Okay, first if you can't brush a minimum of 3 times a day make sure when you can brush, brush them really well. Brush them with your regular brush above, below and I brush straight over them also. Then, for the special brush, I was told to use to remove food stuck between brackets, but I put a little tooth paste on it and brush real good against each side of each bracket to prevent cavities that form by brackets. Also, it is very important to floss regularly and you should have gotten floss threaders or whatever they are called to thread through your braces to floss, they can be very annoying because if takes a long time to do but it needs to be done. Lastly, you mention mouthwash, which you should make a habit to use, I would recommend getting Phos-Flur anti-cavity fluoride rinse it is made especially for braces and its what I use. Now if you got all this down you should be able to maintain you teeth very well. Oh and for the water pick thing I have no clue about that but if you were told it would come in handy then by all means look into it.
Reply:Buy a special electric tooth brush with the small thin, yet powerful brush (replacables) from your dentist. If you use it well, you only need to floss every other day and if you use mouth wash, even better.