Four tips for brushing with braces

Keeping your braces clean is an essential part of the enhancement and healing process … but that’s not always easy. The wires and brackets used in orthodontic appliances can trap small food particles that you can’t get to all that easily, but if you don’t put in a little extra effort you’re actually increasing the chance of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues. So here are a few quick tips to help:

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, move it up and down, and clean all the surfaces you can find — top and bottom, front and back — and be sure to brush above and below the brackets. Brush your tongue, too.

Gather the best gear. An interdental toothbrush – the kind that’s shaped like a pipe cleaner with a handle, also known as a “proxabrush,” gives you the flexibility to get under those pesky brackets and around all the wires – all the places a regular brush just can’t go. There’s special floss available as well, floss with a stiffened end that’s specifically designed for cleaning braces. A “floss threader” is a good idea, too. It lets you push one end of your dental floss past an obstruction; then you can grab the floss and use it as you normally would. And, of course, a water pic, a.k.a. an oral irrigator, is great for keeping all those tiny spaces clean.

Take your time – in fact, time your time. Use the timer on your phone, or play a collection of your favorite tunes, but be sure you stay at the task for two to three minutes each and every time.

Don’t forget the floss. It’s mentioned above, but it bears repeating: you really need to floss at least once a day to keep your appliance, as well as your teeth and gums clean – clean and beautiful. Bacteria love the spaces between your teeth, and that bacteria causes tooth decay, and periodontal disease. In fact, bacteria can actually appear as white spots on your teeth.

Regular dental hygiene is important year ‘round, whether you have braces or not, but it’s especially important when you’re wearing appliances. And, keeping things healthy and helpful is entirely up to you!