October marks National Orthodontic Health Month, and the team at Designer Smiles by Benton is here with a timely reminder to keep your smile and oral health front and center. If you’re in the middle of orthodontic treatment, now’s the perfect chance to strengthen those good habits that keep your progress on track—just in time for a fun-filled Halloween weekend!
Why Oral Health Matters
Maintaining good oral health is key to preventing issues like bad breath, gum inflammation, tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and hard-to-remove tartar. These concerns cause physical and mental discomfort, increase dental costs, and have lasting effects on your smile, like tooth loss and permanent discoloration.
And if you’re an orthodontic patient? Oral health becomes even more critical. Orthodontic appliances like metal braces, clear braces, clear aligners, or retainers can trap food and plaque, increasing the risk of dental and orthodontic problems. If you don’t properly care for your teeth, gums, and orthodontic appliances, you have an increased risk of tooth sensitivity, cavities, and gum disease that can make treatment unnecessarily uncomfortable and have undesired results.
We require everyone to be in good oral health before starting treatment, so all you have to do to ensure your orthodontic experience is safe, comfortable, and beneficial is oral health “quality control.” Below are tips to keep your aligners, braces, and retainers in tip-top shape.
How To Properly Clean Your Braces
Braces are notorious for providing the perfect spaces for plaque, bacteria, and food to feel right at home. Fortunately, cleaning braces is easier than it looks.
- Brush After Every Meal: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Gently brush along the gumline, brackets, and wires at a 45-degree angle. Pay close attention to cleaning around each bracket and underneath the wires. Brush for at least two minutes every morning and evening and after eating.
- Floss Daily: It can be tricky to floss with braces, but cleaning between your teeth to prevent plaque buildup is important. Use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to guide the floss around your brackets and wires and eliminate all that pesky debris threatening your well-being.
- Use Interdental Brushes: These small, pointed brushes are great for getting into tight spots between your braces and teeth. They can remove food particles and plaque that your toothbrush might miss. They’re also perfect for fast, on-the-go use!
- Rinse With Mouthwash: An antibacterial mouthwash helps reduce plaque and keep your breath fresh. It also helps support gum health.
- Consider A Water Flosser: A water flosser is another beneficial tool for people with braces. It can easily reach the areas around your brackets and wires, flushing out food and plaque even in the hardest-to-reach places. You should use it in addition to brushing and thread flossing.
- Bonus Tip: Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away food particles and neutralizes acids that can harm your teeth. Staying hydrated also helps boost saliva production, which is your mouth’s natural defense against plaque buildup.
How To Properly Clean Your Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are less likely than braces to accumulate harmful plaque and bacteria. Still, they’re not immune to these oral health bullies. You must still be diligent about keeping your Boost, Spark, or Invisalign clear aligners clean and in good condition to preserve your well-being and ensure the best orthodontic results possible.
- Rinse Your Aligners: Always rinse your aligners with lukewarm water whenever you take them out. This helps wash away saliva and prevent bacteria from building up. Let them air dry.
- Brush And Floss Before Wearing Aligners: Before putting your aligners back in after meals, brush and floss your teeth thoroughly. Any trapped food, especially if sealed under the aligner, can aid in plaque development.
- Clean Your Aligners Daily: Use a soft toothbrush and clear, non-abrasive soap to gently clean your aligners each day. Avoid toothpaste, as it can be too abrasive and cause uncomfortable scratches on the aligners where bacteria can hide.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Leaving your aligners in a hot car or rinsing them in hot water can warp your aligners, making them less effective. Same with really cold temperatures. Always clean and rinse your aligners with lukewarm or cold water.
- Soak Your Aligners Regularly: If you have Invisalign clear aligners, you can use Invisalign Cleaning Crystals to soak your aligners a few times a week. This helps keep them clear, odor-free, and free of bacteria buildup. Regardless of your aligner brand, you should not soak them in denture cleaners or mouthwash.
- Bonus Tip: Always put your aligners in their protective case whenever you’re not wearing them to protect them from gross surfaces and substances.
How To Enjoy Halloween While Protecting Oral Health
If you have fixed appliances, you’re probably already aware there are certain foods to avoid with braces. Hard, sticky, or chewy foods can damage brackets and wires, leading to longer treatment times. Unfortunately, Halloween candy is no exception. Popular candies like taffies, Starbursts, gummies, caramels, and hard candies like Jolly Ranchers (just to name a few) should be off-limits. Besides the damage they can cause, they can also get stuck in your braces, risking your oral health, or even cause a broken bracket.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holiday! Here are some tips to help you have fun without compromising your smile:
- Opt for soft treats that are less likely to harm your braces, like plain chocolate or peanut butter cups.
- After indulging in any Halloween sweets, make sure to brush and floss.
- Bring braces-friendly snacks to events, just in case.
- Pace yourself with your treats. This will help them last longer and protect you from the oral health consequences of overconsumption of sugary delights.
Keep Smiling Year Round With Designer Smiles by Benton!
Taking care of your smile during orthodontic treatment doesn’t have to be difficult, especially with the right tips and guidance. At Designer Smiles by Benton, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile through personalized orthodontic care. If you have any questions about maintaining your oral health or need help with your treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our Oxford and Pell City locations are ready to serve you with friendly, expert care—even if it’s not National Orthodontic Health Month.
Let’s get you that smile you’ve always wanted—call us or visit us at Designer Smiles by Benton to get started!