If you’re wearing braces for orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to put in a little extra work to maintain your investment and keep your pearly whites clean. Whether you’re at school, work, or on vacation, it can be helpful to have everything you need to take care of your braces on hand. To keep your oral health and orthodontic devices in pristine condition, here are 5 essential dental tools for your braces survival kit.
1. Travel-sized Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Regardless of whether or not you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment, carrying around a travel-sized toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in your bag to freshen up after mealtime is beneficial to your oral health.
Brushing more is often necessary for people with orthodontics. The harder-to-reach parts of your braces make perfect hiding places for food debris, and this can cause plaque buildup, staining, and tooth decay.
As such, brushing after eating will help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. You should at the very least keep a toothbrush on hand, even if you don’t have toothpaste.
Alternatively, you can rinse your mouth with water to remove food particles or traces of sugary or acidic beverages. While it’s not as effective as brushing, it’s better than allowing what you’ve been eating or drinking to sit on or in between your teeth until you get home.
2. Floss & Floss Threaders
Cleaning the space between the archwire and teeth and below the gumline is essential to maintaining good oral health. That being said, it can be challenging to floss when you wear braces. Thankfully, you can use a floss threader to make getting it between your braces much easier. Keeping both in a pouch on your person can let you take care of your smile wherever you go.
3. Travel-sized Mouthwash
Rinsing with mouthwash will keep your breath fresh throughout the day and can take care of areas your travel toothbrush can’t reach. Consider an alcohol-free mouthwash with fluoride for added protection against cavities and enamel erosion.
4. Interdental Brushes
Use interdental brushes to get food particles and plaque stuck in those harder-to-reach areas. They are small, disposable, and flexible, easily removing what’s trapped between your teeth and braces or around your brackets.
You can even continue using these after your orthodontic treatment is finished!
5. Orthodontic Wax
When you initially get braces and for the first few days following subsequent adjustments, you may experience some irritation or soreness.
Orthodontic wax acts as a barrier between your mouth and the sharp or rough parts of your braces, providing relief and protection.
Your mouth will get used to having braces; any discomfort from placement or adjustment is temporary. That being said, even if it’s not long-lasting, wax can make the first few days of the adjustment period easier to get through.
Place the above items in a portable pouch of your choosing, and you’re all set. Protect and preserve your smile and braces on the go with your new braces survival kit!
About the Author
Dr. Travis Rottman has been providing quality dental care for patients of all ages since 2011. Whether you’re interested in Invisalign clear aligners or traditional braces for your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Rottman is eager to help you achieve your smile goals. If you want to learn more about what to put in your braces survival kit, contact Dr. Rottman through his website or by phone at (972) 848-0073.