Your dentist might have suggested braces for your teeth. It’s not anyone’s favorite orthodontic device, but you know what they say: no pain, no gain. A trouble many people have with braces is brushing their teeth with them. You might be worried about how to whiten your teeth with braces if they get stained, but you should be more concerned about brushing. Hence, we’ll tell you how to brush your teeth with braces in this article.
Steps to Brush Your Teeth With Braces
Brushing is the most crucial aspect of your oral hygiene — you must never miss it. Otherwise, bacteria will build up and lead to dental health issues. The chances of dental issues due to bacteria buildup increase slightly when you start wearing braces.
You can learn how to brush your teeth with braces in the following steps:
1. Don’t Skip Regular Brushing
Brushing is not negotiable. Hence, whether you’re wearing your braces or not, don’t skip brushing.
Many people ask, “Do I have to brush my teeth every time I eat with braces?” The answer is yes. This is because scrubbing your teeth after each meal helps remove plaque and bacteria on your teeth. This way, you can avoid the dental problems that bacteria buildup can lead to.
2. Use the Right Brushing Tools
An essential aspect of brushing your teeth with braces is to have the right tools.
Firstly, make sure you have a cup and your toothbrush, be it manual or electric. You’ll also need a non-abrasive toothpaste to go with that, so you don’t clean your teeth using harsh products. Moreover, flossing is another step of oral hygiene you shouldn’t skip. You can use either a floss, floss threader, or water flosser — whatever you find feasible. Other than this, you’ll need interdental brushes to ensure every inch of your teeth is clean. Lastly, mouthwash might help freshen up your breath as well. Oh, and don’t forget you’ll need a mirror to perform your oral care routine!
3. Swish Your Mouth with Water
You can start by pouring water into the cup to rinse your mouth. This helps loosen any food particles before you start brushing. After swishing, you can remove the orthodontic pieces like bands, elastics, etc.
4. Brush Your Teeth at the Right Angle
Now moving on to the main part of how to brush your teeth with braces. Put a pea-sized amount of non-abrasive toothpaste on your brush after rinsing it. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and start cleaning your gum line in a gentle manner. Then, you can brush the top of the brackets. Once you’ve done that, you can angle the brush beneath the brackets and wire. Take your time to brush each tooth, making sure not to miss any surface.
5. Thoroughly Brush Your Teeth With Braces
Gently and thoroughly is how to brush your teeth with braces. This is because your teeth will need your undivided attention when you’re brushing them. Therefore, make sure you are thorough when cleaning them, taking at least two minutes to brush. Furthermore, you can use interdental brushes to clean the braces. This is because there are harmful effects of not brushing teeth with braces.
6. Floss Between Each Tooth
The steps on how to brush your teeth with braces include flossing. Now it can be a bit tricky to floss with braces, but that’s the reason to skip this step. If there’s any issue, you can always use a water flosser to clean the spaces between your teeth.
7. Lastly, Rinse Your Mouth
After you’re done brushing and flossing your teeth, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. This way, you can get rid of germs and leftover food particles. In addition, mouthwash will help freshen your breath.
What Should I Do?
Your dentist can tell you how to properly brush your teeth with braces. It’s important to steer clear of oral health issues. Porter Smiles Dental team is always here to answer your queries and help improve your dental health. Schedule an appointment with us at (281) 519-7200. You can meet us at 21693 FM 1314 Ste 700, Porter, TX 77365.