Even if you correct your teeth and arrange them neatly, it’s sad to have teeth full of cavities. If tooth decay progresses, you may lose your teeth. This article will show you how to clean your braces and retainers.
By keeping your mouth clean and keeping your mouth clean, you will end up with beautiful teeth.
How to clean the Non Removable Orthodontic Appliance?
1-3 Wire Straightening (front side straightening):
Wire braces with a device on the front side of the tooth cannot be removed by yourself. Therefore, you need to be more careful when brushing than usual. How to brush your teeth and the goods you use will differ depending on the dentist, but in addition to ordinary toothbrushes, use a brush dedicated to orthodontics and a one-tuft brush with a small head that makes it easy to turn.
In addition, some dentists recommend dental floss (yoji), which has been developed for orthodontics and has a shape that is easy to polish, and fluoride gel application after brushing teeth. Others recommend using an electric or sonic toothbrush.
1-2 Back side correction
Like wire braces, backside orthodontics cannot be removed, and they are harder to polish and clean than wire braces on the front side of teeth. This is because there is a device on the back of the tooth to make it less noticeable.
Of course, it is a significant advantage because it is inconspicuous, but it also has a disadvantage: it is difficult to polish in cleaning.
There are places that ordinary toothbrushes cannot reach, so use a one-tuft brush, which is a toothbrush with compact bristles, or uses a special toothbrush or a special dental floss for brushing.
As with wire braces, backside orthodontics differ depending on the dentist, how to brush your teeth, and the goods you use, so ask your dentist. In addition, since it is difficult to brush your teeth during the orthodontic period, some clinics recommend mouthwashes with a bactericidal effect or over-the-counter mouthwashes to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease.
1-1 Retainer (fixed type)
A device called a retainer attaches to the prevent backtracking after orthodontic treatment.
The wearing it varies from person to person, but it will be about 1 to 3 years. It is generally said that you need to wear it for as long as the correction period. Of course, the retainer also needs cleaning because it can put in the mouth.
There are different types of retainers, so cleaning and care methods differ depending on the type.
Fix type
It is a retainer fixed with a wire from the backside of the tooth to prevent backtracking. This type cannot be removed by yourself.
The fixed retainer attaches to the back of the tooth, so it will work harder to brush. In addition to that, the adhesive applies to the teeth and gums, so if you don’t polish it carefully, you can quickly get tooth decay and periodontal disease.
The brushing method differs depending on the dentist, but please brush your teeth thoroughly with a special brush or one-tuft brush. Not only that, but you also need to have your dentist clean it regularly so that you don’t get tartar or unpolished residue between your teeth and gums.
How to clean the removable braces?: How to clean retainers
2-1 Mouthpiece: How to clean retainers
Mouthpiece orthodontics is an orthodontic method that uses a transparent mouthpiece to move the teeth. It decides that the mouthpiece should remove and washed once a day.
Cleaning instructions differ depending on the dentist. For example, some doctors say it’s okay to rinse with water or lukewarm water. Some recommend brushing with your usual toothbrush or toothpaste or a special cleaning agent, or a commercially available denture-cleaning agent.
The mouthpiece replaces with a new one about every two weeks, and the teeth move, so it is different from the equipment used for many years.
It’s not that nervous, but if you neglect to clean it or make it dirty, it can cause tooth decay and bad breath. Please ask your dentist to teach you how to clean.
2-2 Retainer (removable): How to clean retainers
It is a retainer attaches to prevent backtracking after orthodontic treatment, but some types can be removed. Because it can remove, it is easier to brush your teeth than the fixed type described above, and it has the advantage of being less prone to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Beck type / Holley type: How to clean retainers
Detachable retainers include Beck-type retainers and Holley-type retainers. The wire covers the surface of the tooth so that it stands out for what you see.
Care varies depending on the dentist. Some clinics recommend washing with water or hot water, washing with a special detergent or denture cleanser, or brushing with a toothbrush. Depending on the dentist, brushing with a toothbrush will damage it, and bacteria can quickly grow on it, so you may only wash it with a detergent.
Clear Retainer (mouthpiece type): How to clean retainers
There is also a mouthpiece type retainer. Made of a material such as transparent resin or rubber, it is inconspicuous in appearance. It has the advantage of being easy to brush your teeth because you can remove them yourself.
In the case of a clear retainer, it removes and cleaned once a day in the same way as mouthpiece correction. Again, care depends on the dentist. In addition to washing with water or lukewarm water, wash with your usual toothbrush or with a special cleaning agent or a commercially available denture-cleaning agent.
Be careful when cleaning: How to clean retainers
3-1 Don’t polish: How to clean retainers
Polishing the orthodontic appliance and retainer may lead to damage. I understand that I want to work hard to remove the dirt, but the minor scratches that I can’t see make it easier for germs to grow. Please wash it gently and carefully to remove any dirt.
3-2 Rinse well with detergent: How to clean retainers
After that, be careful when immersing the mouthpiece or retainer in the cleaning agent. Don’t forget to wash off the cleaning agent thoroughly. The cleaning agent will remain if you wash it lightly.
For some people, it can cause a rash or inflammation. Detergents have bactericidal power, so be sure to wash them thoroughly.
3-3 Protect the time of soaking in the cleaning agent
It is vital to protect the time it takes to soak in the retainer or denture cleaning solution. Don’t overextend or shorten your time. It seems that the metal part of the retainer may discolour by soaking it too much.
The cost of the retainer varies depending on the dentist, but it is not cheap, so please handle it with care.
Summary: How to clean retainers
Care must take when cleaning the braces and retainers to damage, damage, or discolour the equipment.
In particular, dirt quickly collects around the orthodontic appliances and retainers that cannot remove. And the toothbrush is challenging to reach. So it can say that tooth decay. And the periodontal disease is likely to occur even if you try to clean your teeth. You may lose healthy teeth if you don’t know the importance of brushing. Then I don’t know what the correction was for.
How to clean the braces and retainers depends on the dentist. Also, the recommended method differs depending on the material, so it is essential to check with your dentist.
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