Brushing and Flossing

To properly clean your teeth while wearing braces, use a soft-bristled brush or a bi-level brush, which has shorter bristles in the center and longer bristles at the edges. An electric toothbrush can be effective as well, but be sure to set it to a moderate power level to avoid the brush's vibrations hitting the braces. 

You should brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day (preferably after meals) for at least two minutes each time. Be thorough and ensure you clean all tooth surfaces: 

• Front surfaces: Use small circular motions to clean the area between the brackets and gums. 
• Gum line: Tilt the brush upward (for upper teeth) or downward (for lower teeth) toward the gums while maintaining the circular motion. 
• Chewing surfaces: Use a back-and-forth scrubbing motion. 
• Back surfaces: Brush carefully, similar to how you clean the front surfaces.

If you have trouble cleaning around the brackets and wires, consider using these tools: 

Interdental toothbrush: This small brush (like a mini pipe cleaner) is designed to clean the tight spaces around braces, especially under wires. 

Oral irrigator (water pick): This tool shoots a pressurized stream of water at the teeth, helping to dislodge trapped food particles. While it’s a great supplement, it shouldn’t replace brushing or flossing.

Flossing with braces is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy. To floss under the archwire, use a floss threader. This tool helps guide the floss under the wires, similar to threading a needle: 

1. Thread the floss through the threader. 
2. Push the threader under the archwire and pull the floss through. 
3. Hold the floss at both ends and slide it up and down between your teeth and under the gums until you hear a “squeaky” clean sound. 
4. Move to a new section of floss for each tooth to avoid spreading plaque.

To check how well you're cleaning your teeth, you can use disclosing solutions or disclosing tablets. These vegetable-based dyes reveal any areas where plaque and debris have been missed, allowing you to clean more effectively.