If you have braces on your teeth, it is important to keep both your teeth and braces clean. Click here to learn about cleaning teeth with braces.
Do you wear braces? They're quite common nowadays and are great for getting a perfect smile but they do present an issue for some in regards to maintenance. Cleaning teeth with braces is no simple task.
But with careful toothbrush selection and a thorough brush, you'll have clean teeth and braces. In this guide, you'll learn the steps on how to brush your teeth. Read on and find out more.
1. Get a Special Toothbrush
Braces are devices placed on your teeth, so you need to use the right toothbrush or toothbrushes. Buy a regular brush and add a braces-specific Proxabrush. This will help you get between the brackets and ensure that food debris isn't trapped there.
When cleaning teeth with braces, make sure the brush has soft bristles. A brush from either sonicare or oral-b will just do fine. The brush's size and shape should fit your mouth. This will help in reaching all its areas, but make sure to replace it every 3-4 months, especially when it starts becoming frayed.
A Proxabrush or "Christmas tree" brush is a better choice for braces. It helps you clean more effectively between the braces.
2. Prepare the Toothbrushes
Make sure to run the toothbrushes under the water. Put a dollop of toothpaste on it about the size of a pea. This ensures that you'll get the most out of cleaning your teeth, braces, and oral cavity. Make sure that the toothpaste you're using is fluoride-based.
Fluoride toothpaste is great for strengthening your teeth and removing plaque buildup. It helps counter the possible plaque around your braces, especially when you don't brush your teeth properly. Take note, braces might make your teeth more sensitive, so get a toothpaste formula that helps decrease sensitivity.
3. Brush Your Teeth by Sections
To make brushing easier, separate your mouth into four quadrants: top, left, right, and bottom. That way, you'll make sure to clean every surface. You need to brush the section that gives you the most comfort when you start.
When brushing your teeth, use gentle pressure while holding the brush at a 45-degree angle. It should stay in contact with your teeth and gum line surface. Start with the outer surfaces first, moving to the inner ones using short brush strokes.
Repeat this process for each quadrant of your mouth. Brushing the inside surfaces of your front teeth is easy since you can angle the brush vertically. With that, you can make vertical strokes.
For your chewing surfaces, tongue, and soft palate, you'll need to use a scrubbing movement. Make sure that the back and forth is gentle since you can end up bruising your gums. Remember, your gums will always have a slight inflammation, so slight bleeding is normal.
Most of all, the surfaces around and in-between the braces need the most attention. It's where plaque buildups usually happen. Don't forget to brush the roof of your mouth too.
4. Brush Your Teeth Using Proxabrush
After using your regular brush, it's advisable to use the Christmas Tree brush. It's a great way of cleaning the plaque stuck between the brackets. If you want peace of mind, use this since it's more specialized than your regular brush.
Make sure to brush two teeth at a time. Put the brush from the top of the wire in between the two brackets. Repeat this process from the bottom to finish it off.
5. Floss Afterwards
Whenever you brush your teeth, you might miss some debris stuck in between your teeth. That's why you need to floss too, to remove plaque before they can build up. As a general rule, you'll need around 18" of floss every time.
Wrap the floss around your middle fingers. Use your thumbs and forefingers to have a secure grip on the rest of the string. Feed the floss between your tooth near the gum and your bracket's main archwire.
For the side of each tooth, you'll need to use a gentle sawing motion. If you aren't sure about the right type of floss for your teeth, ask your orthodontist for recommendations. But a good choice is to use floss for dental bridge cleaning since its tips will gently go between your teeth and gum line.
Do you hate regular floss? If so, try water flossing. Your dentist might suggest it, depending on your oral condition.
6. Use an Antiseptic Mouth Rinse
After brushing and flossing, finish it off by rinsing with a mouthwash. Lots of studies prove that mouthwash use will help in decreasing plaque. As someone with braces, it becomes a major problem.
Mouthwashes also help in clearing away food particles and other microbes. Make sure to buy one that has chlorhexidine since it won't dry your mouth and cause halitosis. Swish it in your mouth and let it sit for a while before spitting it out.
Do you need help keeping your braces clean? If so, read these tips and learn more.
7. Use Pain Relievers
Sometimes, you'll experience tenderness when your braces get adjustments. You shouldn't stop brushing since it's easy for plaque to build up. Use over-the-counter pain relievers to get rid of discomfort.
The most effective pain relievers include:
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Naproxen Sodium
Acetaminophen
But if you're in a lot of pain, make sure to consult your orthodontist. It's better to go back to them and spend more time for an adjustment. Otherwise, you might suffer from increased pressure.
Start Cleaning Teeth With Braces Today!
To maintain your oral health, make sure to brush and floss every day. Cleaning teeth with braces might be difficult, and could be a reason to consider removable clear aligners. Looking into the best invisible braces or Byte reviews before choosing clear over metal might be a good place to start. When you do hae braces or aligners, cleaning thoroughly after every meal will help remove microbes and other food debris. Speaking of food, make sure to start maintaining a balanced diet and avoid sugary meals that can form plaque around your braces.
Did you find this guide informative and educational? If so, we encourage you to read more of our posts and learn more hygiene tips today.
