Having braces is a great way to achieve a straighter, healthier smile. However, wearing braces requires diligent oral hygiene practices to prevent food from getting stuck in your braces and to avoid plaque buildup. In this article, we will answer the question: can you brush and floss with braces?
Brushing with Braces
Brushing with braces can be a bit trickier than without them, but it’s not impossible. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after meals. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small brush head to effectively clean around brackets and under wires. Start by brushing the outside and inside of each tooth at a 45-degree angle, making sure to brush along the gumline. Next, brush the chewing surfaces of your molars, as well as your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Finally, use an interdental brush or oral irrigator to remove any remaining food particles or plaque.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing with braces is essential to remove plaque and food particles that toothbrushes can’t reach. The best time to floss is before brushing your teeth at night. Using waxed dental floss or a floss threader, slide the floss between your teeth and underneath the archwire. Gently move the floss up and down, making sure to clean the sides of each tooth. Repeat this process between all of your teeth, using a fresh section of floss for each tooth.
Tips for Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Here are some tips for maintaining good oral hygiene while wearing braces:
- Brush your teeth after every meal and before going to bed.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel.
- Consider using an electric toothbrush to make brushing easier.
- Use an interdental brush or oral irrigator to remove food particles and plaque from hard-to-reach areas.
- Floss every night using waxed dental floss or a floss threader.
- Avoid eating sticky and hard foods that can damage your braces.
- Visit your orthodontist regularly for adjustments and to ensure that your braces are working properly.
Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene while wearing braces has many benefits. Firstly, it helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which can cause additional dental problems. Secondly, it helps ensure that your braces work properly and do not become damaged or broken. Thirdly, it helps keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment, which can result in a quicker treatment time and a more beautiful smile.
Conclusion
can you brush and floss with braces? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it is essential to maintain a good oral hygiene routine to prevent plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. By brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing every night, and avoiding certain foods, you can ensure that your braces work properly and help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile.
FAQ
Is it OK to brush teeth with braces?
If you wear braces, cleaning your teeth properly is essential to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent dental issues like gum disease or tooth decay. Brushing your teeth may seem like a daunting task with braces in your mouth. However, it is perfectly okay to brush your teeth with braces, and in fact, it is necessary to take extra care of your teeth and braces during orthodontic treatment.
To keep your teeth clean and healthy, experts recommend brushing your teeth for a minimum of two minutes twice a day. When it comes to brushing with braces, the routine changes a little. You have to brush all the necessary surfaces of your teeth and braces, which can take a bit longer than normal brushing. Start by holding your toothbrush at a 45° angle against your gums, and brush each tooth individually in a circular motion. Pay special attention to the areas where the braces connect to your teeth and the space right above your brackets.
Next, place your toothbrush at a downward angle and gently brush the top edges of your braces. Then, aim the brush upwards to clean the bottom of the brackets. To clean the insides of the teeth and braces, turn your toothbrush vertically and use gentle strokes. Flossing with braces is also key in removing the buildup of food particles and debris around the brackets and wires. To clean between the archwires and underneath the braces, use a floss threader or floss specially designed for braces.
It is also recommended to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash to protect your braces from plaque and bacteria and to keep your breath fresh and healthy. Make sure to use a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol, which can dry out your mouth and cause gum irritation.
It is perfectly safe and necessary to brush your teeth with braces. Take your time and follow the proper technique to ensure that your teeth and braces are clean and healthy. If you have any questions or concerns about brushing your teeth with braces, talk to your orthodontist, who can give you more specific guidelines based on your unique case.
Is it better to floss before or after brushing with braces?
Braces can make it difficult to maintain oral hygiene and it’s important to know the proper order of teeth cleaning to ensure optimal dental health. While brushing and flossing are both vital to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, the question remains – is it better to floss before or after brushing with braces?
According to recent studies, the order in which you perform your oral hygiene routine does make a difference. Research shows that flossing first could be the most efficient method for removing dental plaque. This is because flossing helps to dislodge food particles and debris from between the teeth, making it easier for fluoride from toothpaste to reach all surfaces of the tooth. When fluoride is delivered from toothpaste to clean teeth, it can help to strengthen the tooth enamel, prevent cavities, and fight against gum disease.
If you brush your teeth first, especially with a fluoride toothpaste, the fluoride concentration can already be high in your mouth. Flossing after brushing may not be as effective because you may miss areas that have already been exposed to fluoride. When flossing before brushing, food particles and debris are removed, giving the toothpaste a chance to seep between all areas of your teeth and deliver even more fluoride.
In addition to being more effective at removing plaque, flossing before brushing can also save time. When you floss last, you may find that it takes longer to remove all the food particles and plaque, as they may have become stuck between the braces and the teeth. Flossing first can prevent this problem and make brushing more effective.
The important thing is that you floss and brush thoroughly on a regular basis. Regardless of whether you floss before or after brushing, the key is to remove all plaque and debris to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste, and don’t forget to clean between the braces and the teeth with a floss threader or interdental brush for optimal dental health.
Why can’t I floss between my teeth with braces?
Flossing between your teeth is an important part of maintaining good oral hygiene. However, if you have braces, you may find it more challenging to floss effectively between your teeth. This is because of the wires, brackets, and other orthodontic appliances that make it difficult to get the floss to the spaces between your teeth.
The reason flossing with braces is so difficult is due to the wire running through each brace, connecting them, known as the archwire. This wire prevents you from flossing your teeth the traditional way as it does not all the floss to come all the way up between your teeth. This wire can cause the floss to get stuck or break while you are trying to maneuver it through the spaces.
Additionally, brackets can sometimes stick out further than the rest of your teeth, making it hard to get the floss to reach the base of each tooth. Flossing incorrectly can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, so it is important to take the time to develop a flossing routine that works for you while wearing braces.
Fortunately, there are ways to still effectively floss while wearing braces. One way is to use a floss threader, which can help you guide the floss through the brackets and wires. A floss threader is a flexible plastic tool that allows you to thread the floss underneath the wire, making it easier to pull the floss between your teeth and gum line.
Another option is to use interdental brushes that can be inserted between the teeth and clean teeth gently and effectively. These small, cone-shaped brushes are perfect for getting into tight spaces and cleaning around your brackets and wires.
It is important to note that flossing regularly and effectively while you have braces can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Without regular flossing, food particles and plaque can build up between the brackets and wires, leading to cavities and gum problems. So, while it may be more challenging, it is critical to continue flossing and maintaining proper oral hygiene habits when you have braces.