Although being able to straighten your teeth with braces no one can see is quite a remarkable technological feat, lingual braces can be a bit trickier to clean than regular braces. To avoid developing cavities or stained enamel while you have lingual braces, it’s essential to learn how to get rid of the plaque and food particles that accumulate around your braces. Just as it takes time to get used to wearing lingual braces, it may take time to get used to a new dental hygiene routine.
Top tips on how to keep lingual braces clean include:
Clean your teeth after every meal. Before braces, you probably only brushed and flossed in the morning and at night. With braces of any kind, however, it’s important to clean your teeth after every meal to dislodge any food particles trapped in your braces. This can help prevent the buildup of plaque and the formation of decay.
Use a Waterpik®. Flossing can become a bit more challenging with lingual braces, which is why many patients opt to use an oral irrigator to help remove food that gets trapped between teeth and around braces.
See your general dentist for regular cleanings. No matter how diligent you are about cleaning your teeth while wearing lingual braces, there’s always the possibility that some plaque or food debris may go undetected. Your general dentist provides regular professional cleanings to help make sure your teeth are just as healthy as they are straight when your braces finally come off.
If you’ve always wanted to improve your bite or attain a perfect smile, but you’ve never liked the idea of having braces, lingual braces are designed to meet you right where you are. These so-called “completely invisible braces” are attached to the back of your teeth, so no one can tell that you’re wearing them. Board certified orthodontist Dr. Chi H. Bui at The OrthoBee Orthodontics in Fountain Valley, California, specializes in all types of braces, including lingual braces. She serves patients from communities throughout the Orange County area.