When you have braces, it is very important to brush and floss after every meal. This is necessary to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, or dental floss, please ask . We can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.
Brushing with Braces
Brush your teeth for at least two minutes after every meal. Be sure to use a small-headed toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use a powered toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness. Brush both the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions. The head of your toothbrush should be held at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush the chewing surfaces and behind your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing after every meal will help keep your teeth and braces clean, which will also help keep your treatment time on track. To floss with braces, use a floss threader to thread the floss behind each wire. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer finger of each hand, leaving a few inches of taught floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you have flossed all of your teeth. If you find that your floss is not removing all of the food particles between your teeth and around your braces, you may want to consider using a water flosser.
