“How do you clean your teeth while having braces?”
I am a 16 year old male. I want to know how do you clean your teeth while having braces?
16 Answers
Brushing, flossing and using a water pik.
Just like usual, but with different instruments, and sometimes we remove the wire to get better access.
Water-pik.
Get an Oral B electric brush and use it after every time you eat something.
I usually recommend adding a minute so you brush with a fluoride containing toothpaste for 3 minutes and instruct the patient to brush the teeth and gums for 2 minutes then focus on brushing the brackets for 1 minute. Floss using floss threaders or for better compliance, use platypus floss sticks every day. Waterpik waterflosser can be nice to have for cleaning under bands and brackets with hooks for elastics. Rinse with Listerine Total care (non-alcohol)
Order: floss, brush, rinse
Order: floss, brush, rinse
It takes longer, but you do on top of the wire and below the wire and in between teeth. Ask your orthodontic assistants or the hygienist who cleans your teeth routinely every 6 months how to do it. They will be more than happy to show you.
The best answer is to take your time. A couple of extra minutes is helpful. Also, an investment in a water flosser is a big help. After brushing, the water flosser can help flush the loosened particles out and get to areas the brush bristles miss.
Brush lightly and use a water pik-type device.
Proxy brushes, water pik, regular brushing, ortho floss picks.
A water Pik is a perfect tool. It gets the food out from the braces nicely. Brushing is great but getting around brackets essential. Floss threading is wonderful but tedious. Try to do that with special flossers made for braces.
I use air flow technology that cleans teeth without removal of braces.
With regards, thanks,
Dr. Narkhede
With regards, thanks,
Dr. Narkhede
When you have braces, it seems very difficult to keep your teeth clean. You have to start by using the right type of toothbrush, make sure that it is soft. Electric toothbrushes are also excellent.
In addition to brushing, flossing is equally important. Flossing probably seems impossible, as you have wires that are in between your teeth. It will take longer but definitely important. There are alternatives like floss picks you can use. I would also recommend Mouthwash.
In addition to brushing, flossing is equally important. Flossing probably seems impossible, as you have wires that are in between your teeth. It will take longer but definitely important. There are alternatives like floss picks you can use. I would also recommend Mouthwash.
16yo male,
You can brush your teeth with braces just a bit more carefully than you would normally. Make sure to brush below and above each bracket on each tooth and don't forget the backs of your teeth as well. The same recommendation of brushing once in the morning and once before bedtime still applies.
Flossing without aids is pretty much impossible, so it would be better to add a floss threader to your kit or Superfloss if that works better for you. The floss threader is a little tool that helps you feed normal floss around brackets and between your teeth.
You can also use something called a Proxabrush that is pretty much a tiny toothbrush that can fit behind the ortho wires and in between brackets on teeth.
Then, lastly, there's also something called a Waterpik flosser that streams water jets to clean your teeth. This has to be used over a sink or in the shower because it makes quite a splash. Hopefully you find any or all of these tools helpful.
Good luck, take care.
You can brush your teeth with braces just a bit more carefully than you would normally. Make sure to brush below and above each bracket on each tooth and don't forget the backs of your teeth as well. The same recommendation of brushing once in the morning and once before bedtime still applies.
Flossing without aids is pretty much impossible, so it would be better to add a floss threader to your kit or Superfloss if that works better for you. The floss threader is a little tool that helps you feed normal floss around brackets and between your teeth.
You can also use something called a Proxabrush that is pretty much a tiny toothbrush that can fit behind the ortho wires and in between brackets on teeth.
Then, lastly, there's also something called a Waterpik flosser that streams water jets to clean your teeth. This has to be used over a sink or in the shower because it makes quite a splash. Hopefully you find any or all of these tools helpful.
Good luck, take care.
Cleaning your teeth when you are wearing braces is the same as when you don't have braces, BUT you need to take more time and give the process much more attention. Be very mindful of brushing between the brackets and your gum line and take the time to floss at least once a day, every day. Neglecting your hygiene can create serious issues with your teeth! Alternatives include BRIUS and Clear Aligners, you still need great oral hygiene, but both of these options present ways to straighten your teeth that don't require the extensive oral hygiene practices that traditional labial braces do!
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
You need to brush at least three times a day: ideally after breakfast, lunch and dinner and floss before bed time. It will take at least 3 min to brush each time counting to 10 seconds on each brace and along the gum line. Only use a soft tooth brush or a good electric tooth brush like Oral-B or Sonicare. A Waterpik is also very helpful to use. Also you should see your dentist at least every 6 months while in braces for a tooth cleaning
I hope your orthodontist would give you personal instruction for care of your teeth after getting your braces on. It is much more difficult to clean around orthodontic brackets and wires and very important to do so, or permeant damage can occur to the enamel of your teeth resulting in white lesions or decay of the tooth structure, requiring fillings to correct. Brushing has to be done individually, in small circles to clean around the brackets and wires. Flossing requires the use of flossing aids, such as floss threaders, SuperFloss or Gum Chucks. Please ask your orthodontist office for care instructions
