After choosing to straighten your teeth, it is very important to care for your teeth and braces. The brackets, wires, and other parts of your braces will attract food and plaque. If not cleaned properly, this can stain or damage the teeth. Dr. Lee recommends that you brush your teeth morning, night, and after every meal. It is also important that you floss your teeth at least once every day. But how do you brush and floss properly with braces?

Brushing with Braces

Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush using a gentle, circular motion. Brush down from the top of the teeth and then up from the bottom. Tilt your toothbrush 45 degrees to brush the tops and bottoms of your brackets. Take special care when brushing the teeth between the bracket and the gums, as this area is often missed. Then brush between your brackets using a proxabrush, which is shaped like a miniature Christmas tree. Insert the brush between the arch wire and the teeth and brush with upward and downward strokes. Repeat until you have cleaned between all of your brackets.

Flossing with Braces

To floss your teeth, thread the short end of the floss between your teeth and the arch wire. You can use a floss threader to make this easier. Floss threaders can be reused. Gently move the floss back and forth to work it between the teeth. Curve the floss under the gums using a C-shaped motion. Move the floss up and down to remove plaque. Repeat until you have flossed the sides of every tooth.

Cleaning your teeth may take a lot of time at first, but you will get faster at efficiently cleaning your teeth with time and practice. Our dentists may also recommend using a fluoride mouthwash to clean the areas your toothbrush can’t easily reach. To learn more about how to care for your braces in Chandler, Arizona, and to schedule your next visit, we invite you to contact Every Smile today.