Clear braces, often utilizing ceramic brackets, offer a discreet way to straighten teeth, making them a popular choice for adults and older teens. These translucent appliances blend with the natural color of your teeth, meaning cleanliness is paramount. Maintaining their clarity requires a diligent oral hygiene routine to ensure a healthy mouth and preserve their nearly invisible appearance. A specialized daily regimen and careful attention to diet are necessary steps to keep your clear braces looking their best throughout treatment.
Establishing the Daily Cleaning Routine
A foundational cleaning routine must be established immediately to prevent food debris and plaque from accumulating around the brackets and wires. Brushing should occur after every meal and snack, not just twice a day, to quickly remove particles that can lead to discoloration or demineralization. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and apply a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, which is recommended to strengthen tooth enamel during orthodontic treatment.
When brushing, angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle above the brackets to clean the top edge, brushing down toward the wire. Next, angle the brush from below the brackets to clean the bottom edge and the gumline, using small circular motions on all tooth surfaces. Avoid whitening toothpastes, because they can cause the exposed parts of the tooth to whiten, potentially leaving a darker square outline once the bracket is removed.
Specialized Tools for Hard-to-Reach Areas
While a toothbrush addresses the surface of the brackets, specialized tools are necessary to clean the tight spaces beneath the archwire and between teeth. Flossing is a daily necessity, and traditional string floss requires a floss threader, which guides the floss under the wire. To use a threader, insert about 18 inches of waxed floss through the loop, then carefully slide it under the main archwire. Once positioned, gently slide the floss up and down the sides of each tooth and slightly beneath the gumline, forming a “C” shape.
Alternatively, Superfloss offers a convenient solution by combining a stiffened end for threading, a spongy section for cleaning, and a regular floss segment, eliminating the need for a separate threader. Interdental brushes, sometimes called proxabrushes, are invaluable tools; these small, cone-shaped brushes fit between the wires and brackets to dislodge trapped food particles. A water flosser is a supplementary device that uses a pressurized stream of water to rinse away debris and plaque from around the brackets and under the wire, proving effective for reaching difficult areas.
Avoiding Staining and Discoloration
The ceramic material of the clear brackets is highly resistant to staining, but the tiny elastic bands, or ligatures, that hold the wire to the brackets are porous and vulnerable to discoloration. These elastics quickly absorb pigment from foods and drinks, causing them to turn yellow or dark. Highly pigmented items are the primary culprits and should be consumed sparingly or avoided.
Staining agents include:
- Coffee, black tea, and dark sodas.
- Red wine.
- Brightly colored foods like curries and tomato sauce.
- Dark berries.
If you consume these items, immediately rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and brush your teeth soon after to limit contact time between the pigment and the elastics. Using a straw for dark beverages can also help minimize the liquid’s exposure to the front of your braces. Since the ligatures are replaced at every adjustment appointment, any existing staining is temporary, but consistent dietary mindfulness is the best preventative measure between visits.