Getting braces involves adopting a new lifestyle, and it's not just about smiling for the camera!
You'll need to be more careful about what you eat and pay more attention to your oral care.
Brushing and flossing with braces can be quite a challenge at first, but it's important to stick with it.
No matter which technique you choose, consistent brushing and flossing is vital to ward off gum disease and tooth decay as your braces work to straighten your teeth.
At Junction Family Dental Care, we ensure that our patients learn how to properly maintain their oral hygiene throughout their treatment with braces.
Keep reading to discover how to protect your teeth from food and bacteria that can lead to staining and cavities.
Brushing with Braces
Taking care of your teeth is essential when you have braces, just like with dental crowns, implants, or veneers.
Brush for at least three minutes, four to five times a day—in the morning, at night, and after each meal.
Using an electric toothbrush can help, but if you prefer a manual brush, use a soft-bristle one with fluoride toothpaste.
Follow these simple steps:
Round 1: Initial Cleaning
- Start by brushing back and forth in key areas:
- First, clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, making sure to reach every corner.
- Carefully clean around the braces, paying special attention to where the brackets attach to your teeth and working back to your last tooth.
- Gently brush between the braces and your gums to remove any trapped debris.
- Finally, don’t forget to brush the inner surfaces of all your teeth; consistent brushing will help remove plaque and food particles.
Round 2: Circular Brushing Technique
- After finishing the first round, switch to circular brushing.
- Make small, gentle circles with your toothbrush, starting at the gum line and moving towards the biting surfaces of your teeth.
- Start on one side of your mouth and move methodically to the other side, making sure to cover each tooth evenly.
Round 3: Cleaning Under the Archwire
- In this final round, focus on cleaning under the archwire, which is often missed.
- Angle your toothbrush so the bristles point upwards toward the biting edge of your teeth.
- Gently brush in this position, moving the bristles along the wire and reaching down into the gum tissue.
An interdental "Christmas tree" toothbrush for braces
Another effective choice for cleaning your teeth while wearing braces is an interdental toothbrush, often referred to as a "Christmas tree" toothbrush.
The toothbrush has a unique shape that looks like a Christmas tree.
Its tapered bristle head helps clean tight spaces between the brackets and wires of braces.
Use it this way:
- Hold the toothbrush at a slight angle to access spaces between your teeth and around the braces more easily.
- Gently insert the bristles between your teeth and around the brackets. Be careful not to press too hard, as this can damage your braces.
- Use a gentle back-and-forth motion to clean the area. Make sure to clean around each bracket and wire thoroughly.
Floss with Braces
Flossing with braces is essential to ensure that no food gets stuck in your teeth, which could harm your gums and teeth.
The traditional flossing method can be complicated, but not impossible:
- Cut a piece of dental floss about 18 inches (45 cm) long.
- Insert the floss between the main wire and your teeth. Gently lift the wire with your fingers to slide the floss underneath.
- Once the floss is behind the wire, wrap the ends around your index fingers for better control.
- Slide the floss between your teeth using a gentle back-and-forth motion. Avoid snapping the floss against your gums, as it can irritate them.
- When the floss is between your teeth, curve it into a "C" shape around one tooth.
- Move the floss up and down along the side of the tooth and under the gum line to remove plaque and debris.
- Carefully pull out the floss, making sure not to pull it out of the tooth, as this may dislodge the wire from the bracket.
- Move on to the next set of teeth and repeat the process.
In Summary
Brushing and flossing with braces can be challenging at first, but once you get the hang of it, maintaining top-notch oral care during your braces treatment becomes much easier.
We highly recommend checking in with your orthodontist to get the best techniques for brushing and flossing with braces if you’re still feeling uncertain.
If you have any questions about braces treatment or think you or a family member might need braces, feel free to reach out to us here.
