Brushing with braces is TOUGH!! And don’t forget about flossing too. Flossing is so difficult that often patients don’t even bother. Here are some helpful tips that will make it easier to keep your teeth clean during braces.
#1 Brush for 4 Minutes Braces are ‘food traps’ and must be cleaned twice as much. DOUBLE YOUR BRUSHING TIME. 4 minutes at least 2 times / day instead of 2 minutes 2 times / day without braces.
#2 Dry Brush. Try brushing without toothpaste for the first 2 minutes to remove food and plaque first, then add toothpaste for fluoride and freshness. Brushing at a 45 degree angle helps get those hard to reach places. Check out the diagram here to see the different angles you can angle your toothbrush.
#3 Floss Everyday. Flossing is just as important as brushing. Floss threading is so time consuming and difficult that most braces patients give up. Make it easy with a ‘Under the Wire Floss Pick.’ These flosser aids go underneath the wire so you won’t have to thread floss. These are great for kids, teens and adults. Search on Amazon.com for: Plackers Orthopick, Platypus Ortho Flosser or DenTek Braces Clean
#4 Use an Interproximal Brush (or Proxabrush)– This is a ‘tree-shaped’ brush that goes underneath the wire / between the braces. These are easy to use and can be used multiple times. They are also small, so you can use then on-the-go! You can find these at any drugstore or supermarket.
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is important for successful orthodontic treatment.
