Why Do I Have Bad Breath with Braces?

Living with braces is profoundly different from living without them, and the differences can show up in some unexpected ways. One of these is breath that seems to be worse than it was before you got the braces. This is actually not from the brackets and wires themselves; it’s a result of your brushing habits needing a bit of adjustment now that you’ve got braces. Bad breath with braces is, luckily, really easy to solve.
Braces and Food Debris
What is likely happening is that, when you brush, you’re not reaching all of the nooks created by the braces and wires. Food gets trapped in there, and if you don’t get the food out, it can breed bacteria that contribute to bad breath with braces.
Another possible issue is that the new braces may make brushing your teeth feel awkward at first, leading you to miss spots. That increases the amount of bacteria left in your mouth and increases the risk of bad breath. You must be sure you’re not skipping any teeth.
Extra Brushing and Cleaning Help
So now that you know what the problem likely is, how do you solve it so that you no longer have bad breath with braces? First, you need to brush more carefully, ensuring that your brush reaches as much of each tooth as possible. You may want to use disclosing tablets to help you find any plaque you missed the first time. These chewable tablets stain food debris a bright color (often hot pink) so that you know where you need to concentrate on brushing. You should also use floss threaders that our orthodontist can give you to get food out from between your teeth and around brace brackets.
Another helpful item is mouthwash. After brushing and flossing, much of the food debris will be gone, but some may be left over. The mouthwash can help wash it away while also freshening your breath. If you don’t like mouthwash, try rinsing with water after brushing and flossing. If you can, however, try to find a mouthwash you like.
Dr. Scott Runnels Orthodontics has offices in Destin and Inlet Beach, and we also serve residents in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Miramar Beach, Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Panama City Beach, and Panama City. If you’ve been battling bad breath with braces, come on in and let us take a look at how you are brushing and flossing. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!