Braces are often a long-term solution to many issues when it comes to orthodontics. However, they feel like a battle sometimes because they take a lot of care and attention especially when it comes to our daily habits. Braces involve staying away from certain foods and ensuring that the right oral health hygiene steps are followed in order to end up with the best possible outcome. This includes what kind of toothpaste we use.
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found many places such as your teeth. Fluoride is often added to water supplies in order to protect teeth. Fluoride helps strengthen our teeth, especially the enamel which is the outer layer of our teeth. This outer layer, or enamel, can be worn away leaving our teeth dull, sensitive, and open for decay. Fluoride helps protect our teeth from these issues.
Relying on Just Water
Although fluoride is added to most water supplies, that is often not enough to protect your teeth. This is why it’s suggested that fluoride be included in your toothpaste or that fluoride treatments are given at your dental checkups. This ensures your teeth are protected since it’s a very small amount in the water supply that’s not directly applied like the fluoride would be in toothpaste or a treatment.
Why It’s Important with Braces
Since braces are often applied by brackets to your teeth, bacteria and food particles can easily get stuck in them. This means that while having braces, it’s important to take extra steps to keep your mouth clean and ensure your oral health habits are on track. This will keep your teeth from decaying or having plaque buildup. One of the best ways to ensure you’re helping your teeth be as clean as possible while braces are on is by using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride can be found in rinses and other forms but, toothpaste is the easiest since it’s already used on a daily basis.
Caring for your teeth in general is important and a healthy oral hygiene routine is vital to keeping a healthy smile as we age. Having braces can be a wonderful way to gain that winning smile. However, braces can be tough on the teeth if a patient does not take care of them properly. This can result in more dental work down the road. Braces can actually be quite easy if a proper oral hygiene routine is already set in place when starting them. As always, if you have any questions, contacting a dental professional is always a great idea. They can even recommend a specific fluoride toothpaste to ensure you’re using the best product for you and your smile while wearing braces.
