Wearing braces is a significant step towards achieving a healthier, straighter smile, but it also introduces new challenges for maintaining oral hygiene. Braces create additional surfaces and tight spaces where food particles and plaque can easily accumulate, making thorough cleaning more difficult. Neglecting proper oral care can lead to issues like cavities, gum inflammation, and the formation of white spots on the teeth once the braces are removed. Therefore, understanding and implementing an effective cleaning routine is important for safeguarding dental health throughout orthodontic treatment.
Essential Brushing Tools
Effective brushing with braces requires specific tools designed to navigate around brackets and wires. An orthodontic toothbrush, often with V-shaped bristles, has a recessed middle row to accommodate brackets, cleaning the tooth surface above and below the appliance. A standard soft-bristle toothbrush is also useful for general cleaning of surfaces not directly covered by braces.
An interdental brush is a small, cone-shaped brush with fine bristles on a flexible wire. This tool is effective for cleaning in the small spaces between brackets, under archwires, and between teeth where a regular toothbrush cannot reach. Selecting the correct size interdental brush is important; it should fit snugly without needing to be forced, and your orthodontist can help determine the appropriate sizes. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended as it helps strengthen enamel, remineralize weakened areas, and protect against cavities, which are a higher risk with braces.
Detailed Brushing Technique
Rinse your mouth with water to dislodge any loose food particles around your braces. Next, apply a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to your brush. Start by positioning your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, using small, gentle circular motions to clean along the gums and the tooth surface above the brackets.
After cleaning above the brackets, reposition the brush to angle downwards, cleaning the tooth surface below the brackets with similar motions. Ensure that you also brush the chewing surfaces of all teeth and the inside surfaces, which are less obstructed by the braces. Divide the mouth into four sections, spending approximately 30 seconds on each, ensuring every tooth and bracket surface receives attention.
After brushing with your regular or orthodontic toothbrush, use an interdental brush. Gently insert the interdental brush between your teeth and move it up and down, as well as along the wires and under the brackets, to remove trapped food and plaque. This targeted cleaning addresses areas a standard toothbrush might miss. Finally, brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bacteria and freshen breath.
Complementary Cleaning Methods
Beyond brushing, other cleaning methods are important for oral hygiene with braces. Flossing is challenging due to the wires but remains an important step for removing plaque and food debris from between teeth and along the gumline. Floss threaders or specialized orthodontic floss allow you to maneuver floss under the archwire.
To use a floss threader, thread about 18 inches of waxed dental floss through the threader’s loop. Guide the threader under the main archwire of your braces and between two teeth. Remove the threader and gently slide the floss up and down against the sides of both teeth, extending slightly beneath the gumline, forming a C-shape around each tooth. Repeat this process for every space between your teeth, using a fresh section of floss to avoid spreading bacteria.
Rinsing with an antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash enhances your oral hygiene routine. Fluoride rinses strengthen tooth enamel and protect against cavities and the white spots that can sometimes develop around brackets. Antimicrobial mouthwashes reduce bacteria and dislodge any remaining food particles for fresher breath and a healthier mouth. Alcohol-free mouthwashes are recommended to avoid irritation, especially with sensitive gums during orthodontic treatment.