How to Remove Dental Glue Yourself
After the orthodontist removes your braces, you may be left with the residue of the dental glue that held them in place 12. The orthodontist and dentist may be able to help you get rid of most of it, but some may remain on your teeth. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, there are techniques you can put into practice to help dissolve and remove dental glue yourself 2.
Mix a paste from 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of peroxide. Peroxide causes baking soda to bubble, so dribble the peroxide slowly into the baking soda to avoid a foamy mess.
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Dab the tip of an electric toothbrush into the baking soda and peroxide mixture. On medium to high speed, move the mixture over your teeth for about two minutes. Do not swallow during this time. If you do happen to swallow any of the mixture, contact the Poison Control center for exact instructions on treatment.
Use a dental pick to gently scrape at the dental glue 12. Brushing with peroxide and baking soda may soften it enough that you can scrape it off, but probably not all in the first sitting. Use caution when scraping at tooth enamel with a dental pick, as accidental removal of the enamel could lead to softening of the teeth and tooth decay 12.
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Floss with waxed dental string to help break up cement that crosses over the space between your teeth 12.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly after each brushing, picking and flossing session to make sure you get rid of loose dental glue and residue in your mouth 2.
Tips
If you find that you have difficulty removing dental glue yourself, you might consult with a dentist about filing and cleaning dental glue from your teeth.
Baking soda and peroxide will also help bleach discolored stains the teeth acquired while braces were in place.
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References
- The Dental Assistant
- Dental Hub
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- US Preventive Services Task Force. Dental caries in children from birth through age 5 years: Screening. Updated September 29, 2014.
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- Walsh T, Worthington HV, Glenny A-M, Marinho VC, Jeroncic A. Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. April 2019. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007868.pub3
- American Dental Association. Dental Radiographic Examinations: Recommendations for Patient Selection and Limiting Radiation Exposure. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bader, J. (2005). Insufficient Evidence to Understand Effect of Routine Scaling and Polishing. Nature.com.
- Christal, A. Dental Prophylaxis. The Edmonds Orthopedic Center.
- Cochrane. Drug treatments for Constipation Caused by Antipsychotic Medications.
- Gelber, S. (2016). Surprisingly Little Evidence for the Accepted Wisdom About Teeth. The New York Times.
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- The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Staff. Final Recommendation Statement Dental Caries in Children from Birth Through Age 5 Years: Screening.
Tips
- If you find that you have difficulty removing dental glue yourself, you might consult with a dentist about filing and cleaning dental glue from your teeth.
- Baking soda and peroxide will also help bleach discolored stains the teeth acquired while braces were in place.
Writer Bio
Jennifer Hudock is an author, editor and freelancer from Pennsylvania. She has upcoming work appearing in two Library of the Living Dead Press anthologies and has been published in numerous print and online journals, including eMuse, Real TV Addict and Strange Horizons. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English/creative writing from Bloomsburg University.