CONGRATULATIONS–you have gotten your braces on!! Now comes the most important part of your orthodontic treatment….the BRUSHING! You must not take any “vacation” from your tooth brush or your flossing as your brackets have little nooks and crannies which can trap food and plaque. This means your risk of tooth decay and gum problems may be higher while you are wearing braces. Here are a few tips to help you to achieve that beautiful smile you have been dreaming of. It’s Up To You…….

Brush first WITHOUT toothpaste so you can see if you are removing all the food particles. Once you have removed all food particles, put a fluoride toothpaste on a soft, compact toothbrush and place your brush at an angle of 45 degrees against the gums. Gently brush along the gum line where the gums and teeth meet, using a small circular motion on each tooth. Spend about 10 seconds on each tooth before moving onto the next tooth. With a little practice, you will get a set pattern of brushing so that you don’t miss any teeth.

Gently brush the braces. Press your toothbrush firmly enough so that the bristles spread into the gaps between the wire and the tooth. Brush in and around all of the brackets and wires. Ensure that you brush under the wires to clean the surfaces of each tooth.

Brush both the inside and the outside surfaces of your teeth using a gentle circular motion on each tooth. For the chewing surfaces, use a firm back and forth motion.

Once you feel you have cleaned the teeth and braces thoroughly,  inspect your teeth and braces in the mirror to check that they are clean and shiny.

Daily flossing is very important to remove food particles which may be trapped between the teeth. With braces, the wires will prevent the usual technique for flossing. Therefore, the floss can first be thread underneath the wire by hand or with a floss threader. Then the floss can pass in between the teeth up to the gum line as usual. You will have to thread the floss underneath the wire for each area needing to be flossed.

After brushing and flossing, you can rinse with a fluoride mouthwash, for 1 minute to help prevent cavities and white spots. If you haven’t removed all food particles or plaque first, the fluoride rinse will not help as it can’t get to the tooth surfaces to protect them.

To ensure your smile is the best it can be on that day you get your braces off, be sure to brush after every meal and/or snack and floss at least once a day.