If you are one of the many people who are wearing braces, you know how important it is to clean your teeth properly. Braces can be a bit tricky to clean, but if you follow these simple steps, you will be able to keep your teeth clean and healthy!

The Benefits of Braces

Braces are not just for kids – many adults are choosing to wear braces in order to achieve a straighter smile. Braces can improve your oral health, make you look younger, and boost your confidence.

When you first get braces, it is important to take extra care of your teeth. In this article, we’re going to discuss how you can best care for your teeth with braces, no matter your age!

How to Brush with Braces

One of the most important things you can do when you have braces is to brush your teeth properly. This means brushing at least twice a day, for two minutes each time. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

To brush your teeth with braces, follow these steps:

1. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto your toothbrush.
2. Hold your toothbrush against your teeth and brush the bristles against the gum line.
3. Gently brush the top and front of your teeth. Be sure to use circular, back-and-forth, and up-and-down motions.
4. Brush your molars by tilting your toothbrush sideways and using a back-and-forth motion.
5. Spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
6. Rinse your mouth and teeth with water.

How to Floss with Braces

Flossing is another important part of oral care, especially when you have braces. Flossing helps remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums. There are a couple of different ways to floss with braces, here’s a guide on a few different techniques from Healthline:

Traditional Floss

• Cut an 18- to 24-inch piece of floss.
• Thread the floss between the main wire and your teeth. It helps to be in front of a mirror so you can watch the thread to make sure it’s going where you’d like it to.
• Wrap the ends of the floss around your index fingers to make handling the floss easier.
• Gently press the floss between the two teeth, and slide the floss up and down along the sides of both teeth. If you’re doing the top teeth, make an upside-down U shape: Go up the side of one tooth to the gumline, and then go down the side of the other tooth.
• Remove the floss, and gently unthread it from behind the wire. Be careful to not pop the floss out of the tooth. You might accidentally knock the wire and pop it out of the bracket.
• Move to the next pair of teeth, and repeat the process.

Waterpik

A Waterpik is a unique tool that uses a steady stream of water to clean between teeth and along the gumline.

• Fill the machine’s water reservoir with water. You can add mouthwash to the water for an antibacterial bonus. However, this isn’t necessary.
• Insert the tapered tip on the water flosser. Press to send water through the flosser to make sure it’s working correctly and that the water pressure is strong enough for you.
• Lean over the sink, and place the tip of the flosser in your mouth.
• Turn the water flosser on. Close your lips to keep water from splashing out of your mouth. Allow the water to drain out of your mouth while you’re flossing.
• Glide the water stream along the gumline and between each tooth.

Floss Threader

You can speed up the traditional flossing method with an inexpensive but indispensable tool. This small, plastic tool is called a floss threader. A floss threader helps you pull floss behind the braces wire easily. To use this method:

• Pull an 18- to 24-inch piece of waxed floss through the eye of the floss threader.
• Insert the point of the plastic needle under the wire of your braces. Gently pull the floss through the wire. Hold the floss threader in one hand.
• Wrap the floss around your index fingers to give you more control over the thin thread.
• Gently press the floss between the two teeth, and slide it up and down along the sides of both teeth. If you’re doing the top teeth, make an upside-down U shape: Go up the side of one tooth to the gumline, and then go down the side of the other tooth.
• Gently pull the floss out from between the teeth, and pull the floss out from behind the wire.
• Rethread the floss threader, and repeat the process on the next set of teeth.

Maintain a Healthy Smile with Braces with Mountain Aire Dentistry

Once you have a routine for brushing and flossing with braces, it’s important to maintain that routine for healthy teeth and gums. Remember to visit your dentist every six months for a check-up and professional cleaning — even if you go frequently for braces checkups! Call today to schedule a cleaning with Dr. Chris Bockrath and Mountain Aire Dentistry.