Do Braces Make Your Breath Stink? Tips to Prevent Bad Braces Breath

Do Braces Make Your Breath Stink?

Getting braces is an exciting milestone for many teens and pre-teens. After years of having crooked or gapped teeth, they can finally get the straight, beautiful smile they've always wanted. However, braces also come with some unpleasant side effects like mouth sores, difficulty eating and yes, bad breath.

It's common knowledge that braces can cause bad breath. But why exactly do braces make your breath stink? And what can you do to keep your breath fresh while wearing braces?

Why Braces Cause Bad Breath

There are a few reasons why braces promote bad breath:

• Food easily gets trapped in braces - Food particles stuck in your braces or between wires and teeth are a breeding ground for bad breath causing bacteria.
• Braces limit saliva flow - Saliva helps wash away food debris and neutralize odor-causing bacteria. Braces make it harder to produce saliva.
• Braces irritate your gums - Braces can rub and poke your gums, causing inflammation and gum problems like gingivitis which can lead to foul breath.
• Oral hygiene is more difficult - Flossing and brushing thoroughly takes longer with braces. Poor cleaning leaves food particles in your mouth.

When you get braces, the orthodontic hardware takes up more space in your mouth making it easier for food to get trapped. The brackets, wires and elastic bands prevent your tongue, lips and cheeks from reaching some areas to naturally clean away food debris.

This trapped food sits and rots in your mouth, creating unpleasant odors. Bacteria feast on the food particles and release smelly waste products like hydrogen sulfide - the chemical responsible for rotten egg smell.

These bacteria also produce acids that erode tooth enamel and inflame gums. Gum disease is another major cause of bad breath. Braces tend to irritate the gums, making them prone to inflammation and infections.

Furthermore, braces make maintaining good oral hygiene more difficult. Brushing and flossing is more time-consuming. Some orthodontic hardware gets in the way, preventing proper cleaning. Poor oral hygiene means more food remnants remain to cause bad breath.

Tips to Prevent Braces Breath

Here are some tips to help prevent and combat bad breath while wearing braces:

• Brush carefully after every meal - Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. Take time to carefully brush around each bracket, under wires and between teeth.
• Floss thoroughly once a day - Use floss threaders to get the floss under the wires and between teeth.
• Rinse your mouth - Swish vigorously with an antiseptic mouthwash to dislodge food particles.
• Clean your braces - Use interdental brushes or a water flosser on braces to dislodge trapped food.
• Watch what you eat - Avoid sticky, sugary foods that cling to braces like caramel or gum.
• Stimulate saliva flow - Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free hard candies to increase saliva flow.
• See your orthodontist regularly - Get braces adjusted or replaced as needed to prevent irritation and allow better cleaning.

Special Oral Hygiene Tools for Braces

Certain tools can make taking care of braces and preventing bad breath easier:

• Electric toothbrush - Rotating electric toothbrush heads can clean brackets better than a manual brush.
• End-tufted brushes - These specially designed brushes have angled heads and slim bristles to make cleaning around braces easier.
• Interdental brushes - These tiny brushes fit under wires and between teeth to remove hidden food particles.
• Waterpik flosser - The water pressure from these devices helps flush out food debris and bacteria.
• Fluoride rinses - Over-the-counter rinses with fluoride strengthen enamel and reduce bacteria.
• Tongue scraper - Scraping the tongue eliminates smelly tongue coatings.

Many orthodontists recommend using an end-tufted brush in the morning and an interdental brush at night. The Interdental brush should be moved carefully around each bracket and under each wire to dislodge trapped food.

Professional Cleanings

Even with excellent oral hygiene, braces make tooth brushing less effective. People with braces should visit the dentist for professional cleanings every 3 to 6 months.

At the cleaning appointment, the dental hygienist will:

• Use scalers to scrape off plaque and tartar around braces
• Clean between wires with special floss
• Polish tooth surfaces and braces with a fluoride paste
• Examine gums for signs of disease

These deep cleanings are important for removing decay-causing bacteria and deposits that you can't brush or floss away. Cleanings also allow the hygienist to monitor gum health and condition of teeth under the braces.

Treat Gum Disease

If braces are irritating your gums or if you already have gum problems, you may need more frequent dental visits. The dentist can provide special cleanings to treat gum infections and reduce associated bad breath.

If gum disease is mild, a professional dental cleaning and daily antibacterial rinses may be enough. More severe gum infections may require antibiotics or antiseptic chips placed near gums.

Adjust Appliance Causing Irritation

Braces rubbing your gums or poking your cheeks can encourage infections and bad breath. Tell your orthodontist if any part of the braces is irritating your mouth. They can adjust the wires or pads so the hardware rests more comfortably.

Sometimes a wayward wire will start poking your gums as teeth shift. Visit your orthodontist right away if a wire is rubbing or sticking you so it can be moved out of the way.

Watch What You Eat and Drink

Certain foods and drinks should also be avoided when you have braces:

• Sugary foods - Candy, cookies, soda and other sugary foods increase bacteria levels.
• Sticky foods - Caramel, chewing gum, gummies and dried fruit adhere to braces.
• Hard foods - Hard taco shells, nuts, popcorn kernels can damage brackets and wires.
• Crunchy foods - Raw veggies and apples are healthy but can bend wires.
• Acidic drinks - Soda, citrus juices, wine, and coffee erode enamel over time.

Rinsing with water helps cleanse your mouth and braces after eating any of these foods. But you're better off avoiding the super sticky, hard or acidic options as much as possible.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

Sugar-free gum stimulates saliva flow, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize odor-causing acids. Gum also freshens breath for a short time with minty flavors.

Just remember - gum can get stuck in braces so it should only be chewed for 5-10 minutes, then thrown away. Avoid sticky, rubbery gums that could adhere to orthodontic wires or brackets.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwashes freshen breath and inhibit bacteria growth. Look for antiseptic rinses with cetylpyridinium chloride or essential oils like thymol, eucalyptol, menthol and methyl salicylate.

Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol which could dry out your mouth. Swish gently with mouthwash twice a

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.