How to Brush Your Teeth and Floss When Wearing Braces

To rock a healthy smile when you have braces, you should brush and floss your teeth the correct way. Good dental hygiene can ensure no plaque buildup due to accumulated food particles in your gums, between your teeth, and around your braces. While brushing and flossing can be challenging at times, in the end, it pays you with healthy teeth.
 

Why Oral Hygiene Is Important

When wearing braces, food particles and plaque can remain trapped and accumulate in the spots around the braces. As a result, bacteria will form and increase your risk of staining, tooth decay, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss.
 

Practicing proper oral hygiene will help to remove the food particles and prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, you should brush smarter and make both brushing and flossing a consistent routine.
 

Brushing Your Teeth and Gums With Braces

You must ensure your gums are healthy and your teeth clean while having your braces. Specialists recommend that you brush your teeth four to five times a day for at least five minutes. To achieve this, you should do this immediately you wake up, after every meal of the day, and right before you retire to bed.
 

Brushing teeth and gums with braces requires the right tools. A special toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste and dental floss, as well as threader, are essential. According to your type of braces, your dentist will recommend a unique brush that can penetrate under the wires and dislodge the food particles.
 

The Correct Way of Brushing Your Teeth and Gums

While brushing your teeth is generally important, there’s a particular way to accurately brush them with your braces on. Here’s how:
 

• Brush at an angle over the top of the braces while aiming right at your teeth to dislodge any food deposits. Guide your toothbrush over each tooth and ensure you follow the natural curve of your gums and teeth.

• Brush under the braces and beneath your teeth surfaces back and forth.

• Always brush your biting surfaces and your tongue as well.

• Do not forget the back of your mouth – especially the area behind your molars.

Flossing Teeth While Wearing Braces

Using dental floss can help to get rid of food particles and plaque from your teeth when you have braces. Floss your teeth every day by inserting the floss threader between the teeth. When you reach your gumline, pull the floss in a c-shape and gently slide it up and down.
 

For braces, it is recommended to use waxed floss so that it doesn’t get caught up in your braces. Dental tape is also excellent for braces.
 

Important Point to Remember

The hygiene and health of your teeth not only depend on brushing and flossing alone, but the foods you eat with braces can also affect your dental health. While putting on braces, you should avoid sticky and hard foods because they can easily break the wires, loosening the braces. Also, steer clear of sugary foods to prevent tooth decay.
 

While brushing and flossing your teeth regularly are necessary, it’s also essential to get regular checkups from your orthodontist. At Ofir Orthodontics, we’ll assess your progress, repair any broken braces, and address the irregularities you may have, such as cavities. We are your local Downey, California, dental specialists who will also advise you on the best products to use for healthy, clean teeth. Get in touch with us at (562) 396-9820 for detailed information about our services.