Brushing and flossing your teeth becomes a whole new ballgame when you add braces to the mix! Utah Orthodontic Care is here to help you through the adjustment period and teach you tricks and tips to continue brushing and flossing effectively with braces or Invisalign. We want all of our patients with braces to know the best techniques to remove plaque and food particles. Our orthodontists and friendly staff are here to help you through this adjustment period with affordable orthodontic payment plans and the best brushing tips around!
Start With A Rinse
The best way to start brushing your teeth with braces is by rinsing with water first. This is the first step in releasing stuck food particles, meaning you will have to do less flossing later. After a thorough and possibly aggressive rinse, you can begin brushing.
Be Thorough While Brushing
The biggest tip to brushing with braces is being thorough. Brush each individual tooth at all angles. Begin by brushing the top of your brackets, then the brackets themselves, and eventually the bottom of the brackets. This will allow the maximum amount of food debris and plaque to be removed with brushing alone. If you have Invisalign, be sure to brush your clear aligners every time you brush your teeth.
Use The Correct Tool
At Utah Orthodontic Care, we know that brushing and flossing with braces isn’t the easiest task. Unfortunately, regular flossing and braces do not work well together. We recommend using an orthodontic floss threader. The threader allows you to pull the floss in between each tooth, above the bracket and wire, to reach the gum line. This is essential when flossing with braces.
Waxed Floss
With your floss threader, we also recommend using waxed floss. Waxed floss will be easier with your braces and will not break or get caught on the brackets. The difference between waxed floss and regular floss is huge when dealing with braces. Take it from us, you do not want pieces of floss stuck between your teeth!
Final Rinse
After a thorough brushing and flossing, give your mouth one last, good rinse with either water or mouthwash. This will ensure that any remaining food particles will come free, either from your braces or your teeth. This step shouldn’t be skipped with Invisalign either. It may be easier to brush your teeth with Invisalign, but a thorough cleaning is just as necessary.
Contact Utah Orthodontic Care for Your Next Visit with the Orthodontist
If you have any questions or concerns about brushing and flossing your teeth with braces or Invisalign, please let us know. Our orthodontists and staff will be happy to go through the techniques with you during your next orthodontic consultation. Additionally, we encourage you to ask about our orthodontic payment plans to make your orthodontic care even more affordable. To schedule your next appointment, fill out our easy online form or call one of our office locations directly. We look forward to helping you on this orthodontic journey with braces!
