It’s a time I remember very well, because really, it didn’t happen too long ago. Yes, I was an adult with braces. You know, the gal who studied and worked during the day, and at night, went clubbing with her girlfriends. That was me! And when that tall, dark stranger approached, I gave him a shy, reserved smile… because anything would be better than revealing a mouth full of metal at age 21 – UGH!
(Oh, and when the orthodontist tells you that your braces will be off in 12 months, it’s a lie. Two full years of brace-face, baby! You don’t forget stuff like that.)
Okay, so clubbing sucked. And so did the removal of four teeth. And getting the braces on. And the elastics. And that damned retainer. But if I had to single out the worst experience of wearing braces, it was definitely keeping my teeth clean and healthy while trying to navigate through all the wire. Even though it’s only been 15 years since I had my braces, electric toothbrushes weren’t a thing back then, so I had to rely on good old fashioned brushing (and pretty much failed miserably). I truly wish I had taken better care of my teeth when I had braces, because when they came off, I was the proud owner of straight teeth – but they were discoloured and I had acquired two cavities. (Insert sad face.) Weeks of whitening strips and two filled cavities later, I could finally enjoy my brand new pearly whites.
But don’t make the same mistakes I did! If you, or someone you know, is currently wearing braces, I want you to have a better experience. And that begins with proper oral hygiene. Today, I’m pleased to share the following intel for brace-faces everywhere:
3M is working with Crest and Oral-B to ensure the necessary information is readily available on how to care for brace-bound teeth. According to certified orthodontic clinical assistant, Cathy Sundvall, there are six key steps that should be followed by brace wearers to ensure a good oral hygiene routine:
1. Rinse: Start by removing loose food particles.
2. Tree brush: Use an interproximal brush to check behind your archwire for any remaining food debris.
3. Water flosser: Use a water flosser to ensure you’ve removed food particles from around the brackets.
4. Floss: Remove any food that’s in between your teeth with floss.
5. Power brush: Brush using a specially-designed electric toothbrush head, which removes plaque in tiny, hard-to-reach spots, like the areas around your braces.
6. Final rinse: Now that you’re done cleaning your teeth, make sure your mouth is fresh and toothpaste-free with a quick rinse.
Not inspired? Consider this – research indicates that a clean mouth prevents various life-threatening diseases like aspiration pneumonia, gum disease and heart disease.
3M has set up a nifty little website that explains the above steps in detail, so you can avail yourself of handy oral hygiene tips and tricks. Best of all, you’ll find the appropriate suggestions for all types of braces, whether you have metal, ceramic or the brand new incognito style. (Hello! Where were incognito braces in 2001? Pfft.)
So, I have a confession to make: as soon as my braces were off, I literally tuned out the orthodontist as he cautioned me to wear my retainer. Nope, didn’t happen. Didn’t care – didn’t listen. And now 2-3 of my teeth have shifted… and I’m looking into getting braces again. And if/when they do reappear in my life, you can bet I’ll be paying very close attention to my oral hygiene regime. Let’s just say I’ve bookmarked this post.
(Psst – Are your kids about to get braces? Check out www.PaintYourSmile.com which allows them to see what they’re going to look like with braces. Super cool and a fun way to prepare them for their new smile!)