How to Brush Your Teeth with Braces: 4 Effective Tips

How to Brush Your Teeth with Braces

Maintaining correct oral hygiene is essential, even more so when braces are present. Proper brushing with braces not only prevents dental problems but also ensures the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment.

Here’s a detailed guide to optimizing your brushing routine:

1. Start brushing: Start with the front part of the teeth, the part visible when you smile. Tilt the brush at 45° to the gum and distribute the toothpaste evenly. Brush gently to cover each tooth completely.

2. Brushing the lower teeth: Close your mouth slightly and brush your bottom teeth in a sweeping motion from back to front. Don’t forget to reach the molars and use gentle movements to avoid damaging the brackets.

3. Brushing the upper teeth: Keeping your teeth closed, use gentle circular motions. Brush the outside of your front teeth and molars, opening your mouth a little if necessary to reach the toughest areas.

4. Using a traditional brush: If you use a regular toothbrush, move the bristles toward your gum lines and the tops of your teeth. This helps remove food particles and plaque that build up around braces.

5. Bracket brushing: Use small circular motions to clean around the brackets. Spend enough time on each tooth segment, and consider using an interdental brush for more difficult areas.

6. Brushing the Inner face of the teeth: Move the toothbrush back and forth, up and down, and in a circular motion on the inside of your upper and lower teeth. When you have braces, this part seems easier to brush since they are located on the outer or front side of the teeth.

Brushing dental crowns Orient your brush perpendicular to the spaces between teeth. Rub the brush from side to side and in a circular motion. This facilitates the removal of soft plaque that adheres to the brackets and in the interdental areas.

7. Thorough cleaning including other areas of the mouth: Your mouth harbors germs and plaque that contribute to the formation of gingivitis. It is important to brush and massage the gums, cheeks, and tongue. Spit if necessary before starting. With the brush, begin to gently brush the gums above (or below) the teeth, with gentle, vertical movements in the direction of the bracket supports. Then, place the brush at a 180° angle to your cheeks and massage gently, avoiding doing it abruptly or hastily. Turn the brush downward and brush the soft bottom and gums, where your tongue rests. Next, brush your palate.

8. Last step: mirror check: The last step is to make sure in a mirror that there is no food remaining on any teeth with braces. If you detect any, use an interproximal brush to remove them from the spaces between the teeth and the brackets. If there is debris between the tooth and the gum, you should floss.

9 Final mouthwash: Remember to rinse your mouth with water; do this for at least 30 seconds and then spit. This helps remove soft plaque in the oral cavity.

How to Floss with Braces?

Flossing with braces may seem like a difficult task. Consider options like Plackers, a floss on a stick, Platypus Orthodontic Flossers, or an oral irrigator. These flossing tools are much quicker and easier to use than traditional flossing, and they can be purchased at most stores.

Take a long piece of dental floss (about 18 inches), wrap it around your index fingers, and move it between each interdental space. Try bending it around the tooth on each side, forming a “C” shape, instead of running it straight through. This will remove any plaque still clinging there.

If you have finishing wires in your braces, it can be nearly impossible to floss under or over a double set, so simply push the floss down, as described, into the space between your teeth. However, if you do not have these finishing wires, it is recommended to floss under or over the brackets. It is the most effective way to clean your teeth and prevent gingivitis.

Consider using an oral irrigator, an electronic water jet device ideal for people with braces. It cleans by removing food and plaque in crevices that toothbrushes can’t reach.

Use of Mouthwash

After brushing your teeth and flossing correctly, complement the hygiene of the oral cavity with the use of mouthwash. Do it for at least 40-45 seconds, gargling and rinsing movements; then spit, taking care not to rinse with water since the rinse must remain to enhance its antibacterial properties.

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Considerations Before, During, and After Treatment with Braces

1. Oral hygiene accessories – toothbrushes:

Choose your toothbrush. Although a regular one will work, consider an electric or sonic brush designed to clean around the brackets. Make sure you use the correct amount of pressure, allowing the head to rotate fully. This will provide more efficient cleaning and save you time.

2. Avoid excessive consumption of high sugar or fermentable carbohydrates:

Foods with high levels of sugar or fermentables can be harmful to dental health, especially braces.

3. Maintain a balanced diet:

Try to consume a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins for the best functioning of the body. This is crucial to maintaining good oral and general health.

4. Regular visits to the dental hygienist:

It is important to regularly see a dental hygienist to check the status of your oral health, especially during braces treatment. This will help prevent problems and ensure proper care of your teeth and gums.

Remember that good brushing technique is key to keeping your teeth and braces in optimal condition. With patience and dedication, you can achieve a deep and effective dental cleaning, even with the use of braces.

Find out more about metal and ceramic brackets in our article.

How to Take Care of Gums with Braces

Keeping gums healthy is as important as taking care of your teeth; therefore, we must make sure not to leave food residue in our mouths. It is essential to practice regular oral care and hygiene, especially between the teeth and braces. To do this, use a suitable toothbrush, good brushing technique, regular use of dental floss, mouthwash, etc.

Risks of Poor oral Hygiene in Patients with Braces

Dental plaque that is not cleaned from the oral cavity, the teeth, and the tongue can break down the enamel layer that protects the teeth. This dental plaque contains pathogenic bacteria that release acids from their metabolism, which can cause the formation of cavities. Cavities and periodontal diseases are very prevalent today, much to the regret of many dentists, who consider these conditions preventable. They should have decreased in recent years.

Are braces to blame for cavities? Get answers in our latest informative post.

Conclusion

In conclusion, maintaining good dental hygiene with braces is essential for oral health. It is important to adopt an effective brushing technique, use an appropriate toothbrush, remember to floss and mouthwash, and consider additional tools such as interdental brushes or oral irrigators. Brushing frequently, avoiding sticky foods, and maintaining regular appointments with the orthodontist are key habits that will prevent plaque buildup and the development of cavities during orthodontic treatment.