We get it—it can feel like a hassle when you brush your teeth with braces. Especially when you’re on the go or just want to head to bed after a long day. The last thing you want is a battle with your braces to keep your teeth clean! But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and a few simple techniques, you can easily remove food particles and plaque without the struggle.
Keep reading for the best way to fight tooth decay and keep your braces clean.
First, When You Brush Your Teeth With Braces – Choose Your Weapons (Tools)
- Soft-bristle electric toothbrush: Check your toothbrush bristle stiffness! Using a brush with soft bristles helps avoid damaging braces or irritating gums. Electric toothbrushes do the hard part for you, and they do it quicker!
- Interdental brushes: These small, cone-shaped brushes fit between brackets and wires, making it easy to eliminate your enemy: stubborn food and plaque.
- Fluoride mouthwash: Rinsing helps wash away anything trying to hang on while strengthening your enamel — your teeth’s shield! (Pro tip: Use mouthwash after brushing and flossing.)
Next, When You Brush Your Teeth With Braces – It’s All About Angles
- Angle your toothbrush: Hold your toothbrush at an angle just like your selfies. A 45-degree angle helps clean along the gumline while cleaning your teeth. Multitasking, for the win!
- Brush above and below the brackets: Gently move the brush in small circular motions to give food and plaque the boot.
- Clean the brackets directly: Don’t forget to tilt your brush to get up into each bracket and wire.
The Finisher: Floss & Rinse
- Use a floss threader: These threaders make it easy to floss even with braces – just slide them easily under the wires and into those tight spaces where plaque hides.
- Try orthodontic floss picks: Gently poke away that apple skin that’s been lodged between your teeth with these tiny dental spears.
- Consider a water flosser: This is the ultimate laser blaster for your teeth! Quickly zap away leftover food particles and plaque with this in your oral hygiene arsenal. Just be sure to use it on the low setting to avoid damaging your braces.
- Rinse and check: Finish strong by swishing with water or mouthwash. Check yourself out in a mirror to make sure you didn’t miss any spots. Looking great!
Pro Tip: In the battle against plaque and food buildup, consistency is your best defense! Aim to brush after each meal. Not possible? Swish with water in the meantime to help rinse food particles until you can bring in the big guns (your brush) later.
Win The Battle Against Braces Buildup
With the right tools and the best technique, you can conquer plaque any time, any place. Even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing! Following these steps keeps it easy and painless, so you can keep your smile bright and your teeth healthy, even with braces. At Polished Dental Care, we want to help you care for your braces easily. Schedule your dental cleaning with braces with us today, and let’s win the battle against braces buildup together—no sweat!
