Brushing and Flossing with Braces

If you recently got braces, congratulations. Before you know it, your braces will come off and you will have a more attractive smile that you can show off to the world. However, in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums in the process, you must make regular brushing and flossing a top priority. 

When you have braces, food particles and plaque can get trapped easier between your teeth, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Although brushing and flossing can be trickier with braces, it’s completely worth the extra effort.

How to Brush with Braces

Brushing with braces may be challenging at first, but you will get the hang of it after a while. Here are some tips for brushing properly with braces:

• Use the right toothbrush. If you don’t already use a soft bristle toothbrush, it’s time to start. Hard bristles can damage your teeth while you have braces on. 
• Rinse your mouth beforehand. As mentioned above, food particles can get stuck between your teeth with braces. Therefore, you should swish your mouth with water for 30 seconds before you start brushing. Doing so will dislodge the food particles and make it easier to brush.
• Brush more frequently. It’s generally suggested for people to brush their teeth twice a day. However, if you have braces, you will have to brush even more frequently. Remember to brush your teeth after every meal you eat to avoid tooth decay and other dental problems.
• Change your brushing technique. When you have braces, you may also have to change the way you brush. You may have to brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to make sure that you get inside all the brackets. It’s also important to brush slower to avoid harming your teeth and braces.

How to Floss with Braces

Flossing removes food particles and plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach and is especially important when you have braces. Here are some guidelines for flossing with braces:

• Use wax covered floss. Non-waxed floss can get stuck on your braces. To avoid this, always use a wax covered floss and floss up to your gum line to ensure plaque is completely removed. 
• Use a back and forth motion. Carefully move the floss between each tooth in a back and forth motion to remove all food particles and plaque.
• Consider a water flosser. If you find it too difficult to use traditional floss, you may want to switch to a water flosser. The device uses water instead of floss to remove particles from your teeth. A water flosser is gentler and easier to use.