When wearing braces, brushing and flossing are more difficult, but they are nevertheless essential. To guarantee that your brackets and wires are completely clean when your braces come off in a year or two, brush your brackets and wires for a few more minutes each day.
Do you require some advice? Here’s how to brush your teeth with braces, step by step explained by our Wicker Park Dentist.
Begin with the Proper Equipment
Brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste with the American Dental Association seal on the package is a good way to start. Brushes with medium or firm bristles may make you feel like you’re cleaning your teeth better, but they might hurt delicate gum tissue. An electric toothbrush, if you have one, is wonderful for brushing with braces since the vibration and oscillation effectively remove plaque and food particles.
Brush Thoroughly
- Brush the area above the brackets and cables with a soft bristle brush.
- Brush the area beneath the brackets and cables.
- Brush your teeth’s biting surfaces
- Brush your teeth from the back.
Brushing for two minutes is recommended for individuals without braces, but you’ll likely need to brush for a little longer if you have braces. In other words, brush your teeth and braces for as long as it takes to clean them. The metal on your brackets should be glossy and lustrous when you’re finished, not drab and grey. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably immediately after each meal.
Fluoride Rinses
While wearing braces, using a fluoride rinse with the ADA seal is an effective way to avoid cavities. Braces are very difficult to clean, and if plaque accumulates around the metal parts on a frequent basis, your teeth may be damaged. White spot lesions, which are a sort of pre-cavity, may appear on your enamel. These white stains or patches are tough to remove and often last a long time.
To avoid tooth decay and white spots, rinse with a fluoride rinse after brushing and flossing. Before going to bed, rinse with fluoride after you’ve finished eating and drinking for the day. Our Dentists may urge you to rinse more frequently if they believe you are at high risk for cavities near your braces.
Floss Daily
While flossing is beneficial at any time of day, we recommend flossing at night rather than in the morning if possible to guarantee that any food debris that has accumulated between your brackets and teeth during the day has been removed. Many patients question if they need a water flosser to make the process go faster, but string floss will suffice if you have the patience to do it correctly. If waxed floss becomes stuck in your brackets, it is less likely to shred than unwaxed floss.
Using your fingers or a floss threader, thread the floss under the wire, then floss as usual, carefully pressing and dragging the string back and forth all the way to the gum line.
Brush your teeth using an interproximal or interdental brush.
These are small brushes that slip beneath the wires of your braces and aid in the cleaning of your teeth and brackets. Using interdental brushes, you may easily remove plaque from the sides of your brackets. If your teeth aren’t too crowded, you might be able to use one of these brushes instead of dental floss to clean in between them.
When it comes to braces, good oral hygiene is crucial.
Because plaque can quickly build up during Dental treatment if you don’t keep up with your oral hygiene, you’re more likely to develop gingivitis, tooth rot, and even gum disease. Brushing your teeth properly while wearing braces can cause cosmetic issues such as yellowing and staining, as well as oral health issues. You don’t want to need more dental work after your braces are off because you didn’t brush properly!
Learn More About Braces and Brushing
We can teach you how to brush and floss with braces during your next appointment if you have any questions. To arrange an appointment, call 773-819-7724 today.