If you have an inherited blood disorder called hemophilia and you want to get braces to straighten your crooked teeth, you may have concerns about wearing braces when your blood does not clot. People who have this condition can certainly wear metal braces, but they should follow the specific tips below when caring for their teeth and braces to prevent a bleeding occurrence.

Brushing Your Teeth

Staying on top of brushing and flossing is important for everyone who wears braces. Bits of food can easily get between the wires of the braces, and if the particles stay there for too long, they can cause tooth decay. When wearing braces you should begin the habit of brushing your teeth after every meal and snack.

If you have hemophilia, it is especially important that you keep your teeth and gums healthy. It is often necessary for a dentist to extract decayed teeth, and pulling out a tooth will cause bleeding.

Follow these instructions to learn the proper way to brush your teeth if you have hemophilia and wear braces.

  1. Swish out your mouth thoroughly with water before brushing to rinse out excess particles of food.
  2. Use a soft toothbrush because the bristles are gentle against the gums. Toothbrushes that have medium or hard bristles can cause the gums to bleed if they scrape against them during brushing.
  3. Place toothpaste on the brush and begin brushing the top area of the teeth next to the gum line using a circular motion.
  4. The next step is to brush the brackets by brushing down from the top of the brackets and then brushing up from the bottom of the brackets.
  5. You should also brush the inside of your teeth and the side portion of the molars in the very back of the mouth.

After brushing your teeth, clean the toothpaste out of your mouth by swishing with water and spitting it out.

Flossing Your Teeth

Using dental floss is another essential part of tooth care for preventing cavities when you have hemophilia and wear braces. Without proper flossing, gingivitis can occur and this causes the gums to bleed.

Plaque attaches to the brackets of the braces and flossing helps with its removal. Use a brand of dental floss that has a wax coating so that it glides smoothly between the teeth. Dental floss that does not have the wax coating can easily snag on the brackets of the braces.

To floss your teeth when wearing metal braces, thread the floss behind the wire and run the floss up and down beside each tooth. After flossing each tooth, take the floss out from behind the wire and repeat the process for each tooth.

Checking Your Metal Braces

If you have hemophilia and wear metal braces, gently run your finger over the wires of the braces after brushing your teeth. Sometimes a wire can break and poke the inside of your mouth and cause it to bleed. By carefully checking the wires of your braces after brushing your teeth, you can detect any loose wires before they pop out.

If you notice a broken wire, place dental wax on the end of the wire so it does not rub the inside of your mouth. You can purchase this product at a drugstore or from the orthodontist's office.

Remove a small amount of wax from the container, roll it into a ball with your fingers and place it on the end of the broken wire. Dental wax keeps the wire from hurting the inside of your mouth. Contact your orthodontist for an appointment to repair the broken wire as soon as possible.

If you want to straighten your teeth, contact a dental professional who specializes in orthodontic treatment, such as Arrowhead Family Dentistry, and schedule a consultation. During the appointment, tell the orthodontist about your hemophilia while discussing your medical history. After the orthodontist places the braces on your teeth, follow the guide above so you can properly care for your teeth and braces while living with hemophilia.

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