Brushing & Flossing

Brushing and Flossing With Braces

It is important to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that collects on your teeth. It's composed of bacteria, food and saliva. If plaque and trapped food are left on your teeth and around your braces, they can cause swollen gums, bad breath, cavities and permanent marks on your teeth.

To avoid plaque build-up while keeping your teeth as clean as possible you should brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal and snack if possible. If you can't brush right away, rinsing your mouth well with water will help. Carrying around a travel toothbrush can assure you will always have the possibility to brush your teeth after a meal. You should brush your teeth thoroughly until they are spotless clean, along with flossing at least once a day. Since this takes a little extra time we recommend doing this before bed so that you can have time to focus on your teeth.

How to brush with braces
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush that’s in good condition. Because braces wear out a toothbrush quickly, replace your brush as soon as it shows signs of wear.

  • Brush around all the parts of your braces and every surface of your teeth — fronts, sides and backs. Be sure to brush your tongue and roof of the mouth. A good way to tell if you’re brushing correctly is if your braces look clean and shiny and you can see the edges of the brackets clearly.

  • Brush your gums gently and thoroughly.

  • Rinse thoroughly after brushing.

  • You’re doing a good job if your braces look clean and shiny, and you are able to see the edges of the brackets clearly. Fuzzy-looking or dull metal indicates poor brushing.

 

YouTube video on how to brush your braces properly

How to Floss
  • Floss every night before you go to bed. That way, you won’t feel rushed.
  • When flossing with braces on, it might be necessary to use what’s called a floss threader. This reusable tool allows you to get dental floss underneath your archwire easily.
  • Make sure you clean carefully along and under the gum lines.
  • Flossing with braces on may seem like a difficult process, but it’s very important. And as with anything, a little practice will make it go a lot faster.

 YouTube Video on how to floss your braces properly