Brushing & Flossing 101
Minars Orthodontics

Brushing &Flossing 101

If you or someone in your family wears braces, take heart. Before you know it, you’ll be flashing a confident smile if you keep these few things in mind.

Brushing

 

Once teeth are straightened by braces, it is easier to reach plaque on and between your teeth. But while wearing braces, plaque and food particles have additional places to accumulate and become trapped.

Be prepared to spend three times as long on your oral care while you have braces on your teeth. Don't worry, it's worth the time. If you don't pay attention to oral hygiene while your teeth are being realigned, you increase your risk of gum disease. Plus, it can help your teeth look that much better when it's finally time to get your braces removed.

 

It's important to brush twice a day for two minutes, and if possible brush after every meal to remove loose food from under brackets and wires. If brushing isn’t an option immediately after a meal, then rinse your mouth out with water to help remove larger food particles.

Use a soft bristle toothbrush or electric toothbrush and brush gently for two full minutes. Brush gently so you don’t damage the brackets or wires. You should replace your toothbrush every 3 months, or sooner if the brackets seem to make bristles wear down faster than usual. Remember to brush around all parts of the teeth, including the fronts, sides, backs, and chewing surfaces.


 

Floss

 

Floss once a day: Use waxed floss (unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces), dental tape or a product specifically designed to clean around your braces. Use waxed floss and thread it carefully under the main wire before passing between two teeth. Don’t snap it—simply move up and down gently, remove, and move on to the next pair of teeth.

Take the floss and carefully thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth

Regular visits are also important to identify potential problems. If you are having difficulty maintaining clean teeth, your dentist/orthodontist may show you the proper technique for brushing and flossing your teeth with braces. Many dentists/orthodontists recommend cleaning your teeth after every meal or snack if you wear braces

https://www.dentalassociates.com/dental-topics/how-brush-teeth-braces

 

 

https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/braces/how-to-brush-teeth-floss-with-braces