When you have braces, brushing your teeth properly becomes even more important than before. Luckily, brushing your teeth with braces is easy… it just requires some patience! We put together a short list to help you create an efficient routine that will ensure optimal oral hygiene.
1. Brushing your teeth with braces
Choosing a toothbrush:
Always use a soft bristle toothbrush or electric toothbrush and brush gently for two full minutes. Dr. Tottori discourages his patients from using a medium or hard bristle toothbrush because the gums can easily be damaged.
How to brush:
Brushing is a three step process, it will take a little longer but will result in clean and healthy gums and teeth.
How often to brush:
Dr. Tottori encourages his patients to brush twice a day to keep the gums healthy and teeth and brackets clean. In a perfect world, patients with braces should brush after every meal, but we know that isn’t always possible. Swishing with lots of water is a good alternative but doesn’t replace good brushing.
- Angle the brush at a 45 degree above the brackets, gently brush being sure the bristles are going in-between the brackets. By angling the tooth brush, the bristles will be able to get under the wires for a better clean.
- Angle the brush at a 45 degree angle from below the brackets, gently brushing, being sure the bristles are going in-between the brackets.
- Carefully brush across the brackets in a circular motion.
Rinse and check your teeth: Rinse thoroughly. Examine teeth and braces in the mirror, and remember to look for any remaining food particles, especially where your lips my have covered the brackets while you were brushing.
2. Flossing your teeth with braces
The wires that connect braces from tooth to tooth makes flossing a challenge, but patience and using the correct floss can help greatly.
Floss once a day!
Use waxed floss (unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces), dental tape or a product specifically designed to clean around your braces. A floss threader is a tool that allows dental floss to clean underneath the arch-wires easily. When you get your braces on, your assistant will show you how to use a floss threader to help you keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible.
3. Plan Regular Checkups
Regular dental checkups are important for your dental health and well being. Dr. Tottori recommends visiting your dentist for routine check-ups, including twice a year cleanings, to ensure that your teeth remain healthy. Working as a team: you, your Dentist and our highly trained staff at Tottori Orthodontics, we will be able to help you get that perfect smile you have been waiting for.
