Sublingual braces offer it all: as standard metal braces, they offer the best bite and tooth alignment correction, while still being hidden from the eyes of others. However, having braces on the back of your teeth does require a little extra work to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. If you're planning on getting sublingual braces in the future, here are three steps you should take to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.

Floss Pick

With any metal braces, it's important to dislodge food debris after a meal from under the wires. Toothbrushing isn't always the most effective way to do this, as the bristles may not be long enough to fully reach under and around the wires.

To remove food debris, you should consider buying a set of floss picks. These miniature brushes are designed to go between teeth and easily glide under metal wires and around the brackets holding the braces to teeth. They're disposable, so you can bring extra with you wherever you go to ensure that your braces are clean after a meal.

Water Flosser

When you brush your teeth at the start and end of the day, you should consider water flossing, too. Water flossers use a high-pressure stream of water to blast away food debris, plaque, and bacteria. They've been shown to be very helpful for people who have braces, since standard flossing can be difficult with braces.

If you use a water flosser, make sure to aim it in front of and behind your teeth. Doing so will target the braces fully and ensure that your gums are being well-cleaned, too. Using a water flosser at least once a day will help to prevent plaque from building up around your braces and potentially causing cavities.

Tooth Sealant

Lastly, consider asking your dentist about dental sealant prior to getting your braces. This sealant is put over teeth and helps to provide an extra layer of protection against cavities. You can imagine the sealant being like an extra layer of dental enamel. Sealant is often applied for people who are getting braces, since it helps to prevent any decay or similar problems from happening to teeth while you have your braces on.

Getting sublingual braces will improve the look of your smile without anyone else knowing that you have them. With these extra steps, you can ensure that your teeth and gums will be healthy during and following your braces treatment, and that your smile will be ready to show off to the world. Contact a dental professional, like Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics, for more help.