Braces serve the vital role of straightening teeth to create beautiful smiles that are easy to care for. However, without proper dental hygiene that incorporates flossing, regular brushing, routine dental exams, and other preventative care, you could wind up with oral health problems like plaque buildup, gum disease, and cavities. With these tips for oral hygiene with braces, though, you can retain the health of your teeth throughout your treatment.
Flossing with Braces
Use either floss threaders or floss specifically for traditional and modern braces to remove the most plaque and debris from between the teeth and around the brackets and wires effectively. You’ll want to floss them at least once before bed, but it wouldn’t hurt to floss them after each meal and especially when you eat sticky or sugary foods.
Some people find using a water flosser is gentle on the gums but still does the job. If you choose this option, floss your teeth by hand at least once throughout the day, preferably before bed.
Brushing with Braces
Brush after meals when you can. If you’ve had something acidic (like soda or citrus), wait about 30 minutes before brushing. Your saliva then helps to wash away any sugar and debris, and then the toothbrush will come in and finish the job. At the bare minimum, brush your teeth once in the morning and one time before bed.
Begin with the right toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are known for removing plaque more effectively than a standard, handheld toothbrush. As a result, they reduce your chances of cavities and gum disease developing during your treatment more so than a traditional brush. If you’d prefer a normal brush, purchase one with angled bristles so you can brush around the brackets better.
No matter the toothbrush you use, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle, ensuring you remove food particles and plaque from near the gumline. Ideally, brush from top to bottom and target all sides of the brackets.
After you’re done brushing and flossing with braces, rinse out your mouth to remove any of the debris you loosened in the process.
Using a Mouthwash
Even with the right toothbrush and floss, you can’t reach completely underneath the brackets of your braces. So if you want to optimize oral hygiene with braces, add a mouthwash to your routine. As a best practice, use antibacterial mouthwash at least twice per day after you brush. This helps to remove any debris that a brush or dental floss can’t reach. It also neutralizes bacteria.
To thoroughly rinse your mouth out, swish for 30 to 60 seconds before spitting out the contents. Follow the product directions. If it’s a fluoride rinse, don’t rinse with water afterward and avoid eating or drinking for about 30 minutes.
Another option is a fluoride mouthwash, a mineral-based treatment that repairs damaged or weakened enamel by replacing lost nutrients and strengthening the teeth in the process. They’re then more resistant to acid from bacteria, which helps to prevent cavities. You may choose one that also has an antimicrobial to not only prevent plaque but also gum disease.
Choosing Your Diet Carefully
When you think about oral hygiene with braces, your first thoughts are how to brush and floss with braces the proper way and with the most efficient tools. However, keeping your teeth clean with braces also requires you to watch what you eat. Though some foods can damage your braces, others are known to promote decay by remaining behind your brackets, where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach.
Even if you’re brushing and flossing with braces after meals, you’ll want to limit how much you eat of the following:
- Gum
- Soft or gooey caramel
- Chewy candies like gummies and fruit chews
- Marshmallows
- Taffy
- Toffee
- Honey
- Nougat
- Fudge
Making Routine Visits as Recommended
While making all your brace adjustments is part of optimizing your treatment, you should also receive twice-a-year appointments for dental cleanings. During the adjustments, an orthodontist will carefully inspect your braces and ensure you don’t have any loose or damaged brackets or other issues that could hinder your treatment. The cleanings give a dentist an opportunity to thoroughly clean around your gumline and braces to prevent decay and gum disease.
At Bernstein Orthodontics, our orthodontists and the rest of our staff are here to help you with oral hygiene with braces throughout your treatment. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask any questions, and always be diligent to schedule your adjustment visits. In addition, brushing and flossing with braces the right way will assist with keeping your teeth healthy throughout your treatment.
FAQs About Oral Hygiene with Braces
Scrolling to get quick answers? Still have questions after the blog? These FAQs can help answer any inquiries or concerns you have.
What are the best methods for keeping teeth clean with braces?
The process of keeping teeth clean with braces is a little more complex because you need to use a toothbrush with soft bristles that can get around the brackets well. Flossing with braces requires special consideration and using process floss threaders or orthodontic floss.
Make sure you’re brushing your teeth at least twice a day, once after breakfast and once after dinner. Take the time to thoroughly clean all of the tooth and get as close to the brackets and underneath as possible. Ideally, brushing after each meal is ideal. Flossing at least once per day is also a necessity.
What should I do if I can’t reach my brackets?
Use either a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush to clean around your brackets and wires. Brush at a 45-degree angle. Spend a little extra time trying to reach the difficult-to-reach areas.
Is it okay to miss a day of brushing with braces?
When it comes to brushing and flossing with braces, you ideally don’t want to miss a day of brushing because you don’t want to leave sugar and food particles on the teeth for any longer than you need.
How do dentists clean around braces?
Dentists will use specialized tools like ultrasonic scalers, floss threaders, and angled brushes to clean around brackets and wires thoroughly.
Why is oral hygiene important during orthodontic treatment?
Because braces can trap bacteria and make it more difficult for you to brush and floss, you’re more at risk for cavities and gum disease during your treatment. Proper oral hygiene can help prevent these issues. You’ll also prevent staining.