A dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar while a patient is wearing braces, though the process requires specialized care. Tartar, also known as calculus, is hardened plaque—a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. Once plaque mineralizes into tartar, it cannot be removed through regular brushing and flossing, making professional cleaning essential. The presence of orthodontic hardware complicates the cleaning procedure, necessitating modified techniques and tools to ensure thorough removal without damaging the brackets or wires.
Why Tartar Buildup is Worse with Braces
The physical structure of fixed orthodontic appliances creates numerous retention sites, increasing the challenge of maintaining oral hygiene. Brackets, archwires, and bands introduce extra surfaces and tiny spaces where food particles and plaque can easily become trapped. These new nooks and crannies are difficult for a standard toothbrush to reach effectively, making it challenging for the patient to remove all of the plaque. If this plaque is not meticulously cleared away within 24 to 72 hours, it hardens into tartar. Tartar tends to accumulate at the base of the brackets, along the gum line, and underneath the archwires, which act as barriers to normal cleaning movements. This buildup irritates the gum tissue and can lead to gingivitis or white spots on the enamel. The increased risk means that professional attention is often recommended every three to four months, rather than the standard six-month interval.
Professional Cleaning Techniques Used by Dentists
The professional cleaning process for a patient with braces is similar to a standard cleaning but is adapted to safely navigate the orthodontic hardware. Dental hygienists use specialized tools designed to work around the brackets and wires without causing damage or dislodging the appliances. Hand instruments, such as smaller-tipped curettes, are employed for precise scraping to remove hardened tartar from the minute spaces surrounding the brackets and under the archwire. Ultrasonic scalers, which use high-frequency vibrations to dislodge tartar, are also utilized, sometimes with specialized tips or lower power settings to protect the bonding material. For the final stage of cleaning, a dental professional may use an air polishing system, which blasts a fine powder-water mixture onto the teeth to remove stains and soft plaque from around the brackets.
Essential Home Care for Tartar Prevention
Preventing tartar formation starts with a rigorous and consistent home care routine, which must be performed after every meal to minimize the time plaque has to mineralize. Brushing should be done with a soft-bristled, fluoride toothpaste, paying special attention to the areas both above and below the brackets. Electric toothbrushes are often recommended because they can provide a more consistent and thorough cleaning motion around the complex surfaces of the braces. To clean between teeth and under the wires, patients must use specialized tools, as traditional floss alone is not sufficient.
Specialized Cleaning Tools
- Floss threaders or specialized orthodontic floss are necessary to carefully pull the floss beneath the archwire and clean the sides of the teeth and gums.
- Interdental brushes, also known as proxabrushes, are also useful, as their small, conical shape allows them to be inserted between the wire and the tooth surface to scrub away trapped debris.
- A water flosser, which uses a pressurized stream of water, is an excellent additional tool for flushing out food particles and plaque from the hard-to-reach areas.