Braces make cleaning challenging because wires and brackets trap food debris and plaque, increasing the risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and permanent enamel discoloration. A thorough, adapted cleaning regimen is necessary to prevent these issues and ensure a healthy outcome once the orthodontic treatment is complete.
Essential Tools and Supplies
Specialized equipment is necessary to navigate the complex structure of orthodontic hardware. An orthodontic toothbrush, often called a V-trim brush, features bristles cut into a V-shape to accommodate the brackets and wires, allowing for better contact with the tooth surface. Pair this brush with a fluoride toothpaste, as fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and protect against acid produced by plaque bacteria.
Beyond the main toothbrush, several specialized cleaning aids are needed for reaching areas a standard brush cannot. Interdental brushes, sometimes called proxabrushes, are small, cone-shaped brushes designed to clean between wires and around brackets. Floss threaders, which resemble a small plastic needle, are used to guide dental floss underneath the archwire for inter-tooth cleaning. These tools allow for comprehensive removal of debris and plaque.
Mastering the Brushing Technique Around Brackets
The physical act of brushing requires adjusting your technique to clean the tooth surface both above and below the archwire. Begin by rinsing your mouth with water to dislodge large food particles before starting the brushing process. This initial rinse helps the toothbrush bristles work more efficiently.
To clean the upper part of the bracket and the tooth surface above the archwire, angle the brush bristles downward at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline. Use gentle, small circular motions to sweep the bristles over the top of the bracket and onto the tooth.
Next, reposition the toothbrush to clean the area below the archwire and the bottom of the brackets. Angle the brush bristles upward at a 45-degree angle, sweeping toward the gumline. This two-part angling approach ensures plaque is removed from both the gum side and the biting edge side of the brackets. Maintain light pressure to avoid damaging the brackets or irritating the gum tissue.
Addressing Areas Brushes Can’t Reach
While the standard toothbrush cleans the main surfaces, it cannot effectively reach the tight spaces between the archwire and the teeth. Adjunctive cleaning methods are necessary to prevent localized decay. Interdental brushes are designed to be inserted gently under the archwire and around the individual bracket.
The proxabrush should be moved with a gentle back-and-forth motion to scrub plaque from the sides of the brackets and the wire. You may need different sizes of interdental brushes for various gaps, and forcing a brush should be avoided to prevent gum irritation or bending the wire.
For cleaning between the teeth, a floss threader is used to pull a piece of waxed dental floss under the main archwire. Once threaded, the floss is used to clean the sides of the teeth and under the gumline, forming a “C” shape around the tooth before pulling it out gently. A water flosser is a helpful supplementary tool, using a pressurized stream of water to flush out debris from around the brackets and wires. However, a water flosser should not replace mechanical cleaning methods.
Maintaining Routine and Final Steps
The frequency of cleaning must be increased significantly, ideally by brushing after every meal or snack to prevent plaque from hardening around the hardware. If brushing is not immediately possible, a vigorous rinse with water can help dislodge food particles until a full cleaning can be performed. Each brushing session should last a minimum of two to three minutes to ensure adequate time is spent on every tooth surface and bracket.
After mechanical cleaning, rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash provides extra protection against cavities and white spot lesions. The final step involves a careful visual inspection using a mirror to confirm no visible food debris remains trapped in the brackets or wires. Regular appointments with your orthodontist and general dentist allow them to monitor your oral hygiene and address any difficult areas.