I thought it would be a good idea to address our most popular topics and collect most of the recommended products and informational resources on orthodontic braces and dental care in one place. This way you can get an easy access to things that I believe can help you the most.
Braces Pain Relief
Pain and discomfort are almost always an invadable part of having braces. There are however commercial products and home remedeis that can help manage the pain.
Mouth Sores Prevention:
Orthodontic Wax For Braces
You probably got your first set of dental wax from your orthodontist. Orthodontic wax * is a product that helps in preventing the brackets from scaring your inner mouth tissues.
How to use it:
- Pull off a small piece from the wax cylinder.
- Role it into a ball.
- Place it on the bracket that is causing the soreness and press tight.
- Do it for all the painful areas in your mouth.
Orthodontic Silicone
This product is similar to dental wax in a way that it is also meant to cover the pain causing parts of braces. However, there are differences. Silicone lasts longer. It can also be reused several times during the day. But it might be harder to place correctly than orthodontic wax. Some people prefer it while other like to use the wax. Both products are relatively inexpensive so it might be a good idea to try both of them and see which one works better for you.
Pain Relief:
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an active ingredient in many of the popular mouthwashes. Rinsing your mouth with just a diluted hydrogen peroxide often helps with mouth sores.
How to use it?
- Mix hydrogen
peroxide with the same amount of water. - Rinse for about a minut
- Repeat 2 to 3 times a day
Rincinol
This is a mouthwash that got lots of positive reviews and is designed to help with various mouth irritations including the ones caused by braces.
Orajel
Orajel is a local anesthetic. You can use it to get an instant break from the pain. It is applied directly on the sore. Once the gel is applied the area is supposed to be anesthetized. It is a medication so it is best to try the natural methods for pain relief before going this road.
For more information about methods that can reduce braces pain please read our 7 must know techniques to braces pain relief article.
Oral Hygiene
Toothbrushes
Manual Orthodontic Toothbrush by Oral-B
Most orthodontists agree that a simple manual soft brush can be good enough even for those wearing braces. However, it is recommended to use an orthodontic one. An orthodontic toothbrush has v-shaped bristles that are designed specifically for braces. Those make the cleaning job easier and more effective.
Electric Toothbrush
Although you don't really need an electric toothbrush to properly clean teeth with braces, some may prefer it. An electric toothbrush will be especially beneficial for people without great oral hygiene skills. There are two main types of electric toothbrushes: rotating or just vibrating. The rotating head toothbrushes are the ones best used for braces.
There is a wide price range for different electric toothbrushes * on the market. You can find a good toothbrush for as low as 30 dollars and you might need to invest as much as 200 dollars in a really advanced one. The less perfect your brushing technique is the more brushing features you will need to perfect it.
Oral-B Pro 1000
This relatively simple oral-b electric toothbrush will allow you to do a good brushing job without making a hole in your wallet. It has a rotating head and only one brushing mode. There are no fancy features, but for most of us, that is just enough.
Oral-B BLACK 7000
This is a more expensive toothbrush. Just like the other Oral-b toothbrushes it has a rotating head but that is only one of the many features it has to offer. This toothbrush has 6 brushing modes that include: daily, thorough and sensitive cleaning, gum massage, whitening and even tongue massage. It has a timer, pressure sensor and even a wireless device that will help you perfect your brushing technique. For those willing to invest serious money into their brushing this is a toothbrush to go with.
For more information about best toothbrushes for braces and good brushing techniques please read the following posts:
Flossing
Interdental Brushes
Interdental brushes are considered to be more effective than floss. Those are small enough to reach into those hard to brush areas. It is recommended to have them in several sizes.
Water Flosser
Water flossers are usually used in dental offices but you can easily get one for home as well. While there are some that argue that nothing can replace the standard dental floss, there are many that believe that this device is actually much more effective for flossing and keeping your gums healthy.
Floss Threader
This is a nice tool that helps thoroughly clean the areas behind the wires. Using it is somewhat like sewing. You need to insert the floss into the threader's eye and then transfer it in between the wires.
Gum Stimulator
This is a great tool to use before brushing as it makes it easier for the toothbrush to do its job. It will not replace flossing but will help you in your brushing routine. It is great for getting out large pieces of food that are stuck in your braces.
For more information about flossing with braces please read the following post:
Bad Breath
It is much harder to maintain proper oral hygiene with braces than without them. Bad breath is one of the key signs of not doing good enough brushing and flossing. Mouth sores caused by braces can often cause bad breath as well. Here are few products that may help you concur bad breath:
Tongue Cleaner
Coconut Oil
PerioBrite Mouthwash
As our body digests food toxins are coming out and stay on our tongues. Removing those toxins from the tongue can play a major role in fighting bad breath. Using tongue cleaner * is the most effective way to remove tongue bacteria.
Coconut oil is one of the oils that can be used for oil pulling. Oil pulling procedure consists of swishing oil in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. This removes harmful bacteria from your mouth.
This is an alcohol free , natural, mouthwash that contains herbs and no artificial preservatives. It promotes fresh breath and healthy teeth and gums.
Eating certain foods is enough of a reason to have a bad breath. Here are some tips that will help you get rid of it:
Mouthguards
Mouthguards * help protect teeth, gums and braces from injury. Here are some of the recommended ones:
Shock Doctor Double Braces Strapless Mouthguard
TapouT Mouthguard
Vettex Football Mouthguard
For more information about mouthguards please read our best mouthguards for braces post.
Insurance
Dental work is not cheap. That is, even more, true when it comes to orthodontic treatment. Having a good insurance or being a part of a dental saving network can help you avoid receiving some of the unpleasant bills.
Being a part of Avia dental network will most likely help you save money on dental procedures. It will turn out to be especially cost effective if routine cleaning is not the only treatment you plan to get from your dental office.
For more information about Avia Dental read our Avia Dental Review.
If you have any questions about any of these informational resources or products, please feel free to post a question here or on our eBraces Facebook Page
