The Orthodontist's Guide To Fresh Breath
At McAllen Orthodontic Group in McAllen, TX, we’re here to help you keep your breath fresh while your teeth transform. In this guide, Dr. Joseph Ryan shares helpful tips to ensure your breath stays fresh throughout your treatment.
Why Fresh Breath Matters While You Have Braces or Invisalign
Think about how much better you feel when your mouth feels clean and your breath smells good. You can talk to friends, or just hang out without worrying about bad breath. When you have braces or Invisalign, your mouth needs extra attention. Food bits, sticky plaque, and tiny germs can hide around your braces or inside your aligners. This not only causes bad breath but could lead to other problems with your teeth and gums.
How Braces and Invisalign Create Different Breath Challenges
Braces Breath Challenges:
- Food Traps: Food gets stuck in all the little spaces between your brackets and wires
- Plaque Problem: The metal parts give plaque (sticky bacteria) more places to hide
- Hard-to-Reach Spots: It’s trickier to brush and floss, so some spots might get missed
Invisalign Breath Challenges:
- Trapped Moisture: Your aligners can hold moisture against your teeth, which bacteria love
- All-Day Wear: Since you wear aligners for about 22 hours each day, any smells get trapped
- Dry Mouth: Some people find their mouth gets drier with aligners, which can cause bad breath
How to Keep Your Breath Fresh: Tips That Really Work
Our team at McAllen Orthodontic Group wants to share some easy ways to keep your breath fresh.
If You Have Braces:
- Brush After You Eat: Use a soft toothbrush and spend extra time around the brackets and wires. Two minutes of brushing is the minimum!
- Try Special Mini Brushes: Interdental brushes (small brushes that look like tiny pipe cleaners) can reach between brackets where regular brushes can’t go.
- Don’t Skip Flossing: It’s harder with braces, but super important! Use a floss threader (a tool that helps you get floss under your wires) or try a water flosser, which sprays water to clean between teeth.
- Swish with Mouthwash: A fluoride mouthwash kills germs and freshens your breath at the same time.
- Pack a Travel Toothbrush: Keep a small toothbrush in your backpack or locker for quick cleanups after lunch.
- Drink Lots of Water: Water rinses away food particles and helps prevent dry mouth, which can cause bad breath.
If You Have Invisalign:
- Clean Your Aligners Every Time: Whenever you take them out, rinse with warm (not hot!) water and gently brush them with a soft brush. Don’t use toothpaste on the aligners – it can scratch them. Your orthodontist might give you special cleaning crystals.
- Clean Your Teeth Before Putting Aligners Back: Always brush and floss before you put your aligners back in. Otherwise, you’re trapping food and germs against your teeth.
- Watch Out for Smelly Foods: Some foods like onions, garlic, and coffee can make your breath smell even if you brush. If you eat these, brush extra well.
- Clean Your Tongue: Your tongue can hold a lot of bacteria. Using a tongue scraper (or your toothbrush) to clean it helps freshen your breath.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away food particles and keeps your mouth from getting dry.
We’re Here to Help You
At McAllen Orthodontic Group in McAllen, TX, we don’t just straighten your teeth – we help you take care of your whole mouth. We understand it can be challenging to keep your breath fresh during orthodontic treatment, and we’re here to support you.
Want a Fresh, Confident Smile?
Don’t let worries about bad breath take away from the excitement of getting a straight smile! Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We’ll show you the best ways to keep your breath fresh while you have braces or Invisalign. Together, we’ll help you get the healthy, awesome smile you deserve!
