Your new braces, installed at Dr. [doctor_name]’s [city], [state] orthodontist clinic have been designed to alter the position and orientation of your teeth, through the course of multiple adjustment sessions. Every four to six weeks, you will need to return to Dr. [doctor_name]’s clinic to have your braces tightened.

Each time this is done, your teeth will be brought one small step closer to their ideal alignment. Yet it’s also important to keep in mind that if your braces are damaged, or you suffer complications from tooth decay, it could alter the active tension on your teeth. Should this befall you, it could increase the required number of adjustments as well as increase the time it takes to fully realign your teeth.

To prevent this from happening, you’ll need to pay particular focus to your teeth and braces hardware during the course of your daily oral hygiene routine. If you find that twice-daily brushing and flossing in the evening isn’t sufficient for clearing your mouth of food particles and plaque, you might want to try some special oral hygiene tools.

A water flosser like Waterpik® can help rinse away areas before and after brushing. Just keep in mind that this is an enhancement or preparation for brushing your teeth. It is not a viable alternative to flossing.

If you’re struggling to floss your teeth around braces hardware, you might want to try using a floss threader. This simple loop-shaped tool can help insert the strand of floss around wires to give you full access to the spaces between teeth and along the gum line.

If you’ve had braces installed at Dr. [doctor_name]’s [city], [state] orthodontic clinic and you have questions about how to maintain good oral hygiene, you can always call [phone] to seek additional insights.