Brushing with braces can come with a learning curve. When you get your braces placed, teeth cleaning becomes more important than ever. With the addition of orthodontic appliances, food particles can build up in hard-to-reach places, making it more difficult to completely clean your teeth.

No matter what type of appliance you get, whether traditional metal braces or clear aligners like Invisalign®, you need to take extra care to clean every surface of each tooth. By making sure to brush, floss, and use a mouth wash every day, your teeth will be straight as well as clean and healthy when your orthodontic treatment ends.

Tips to Brushing with Braces

So how can you effectively brush while you’re in braces? Follow these tips:

Brush four times a day.

While it may sound like a lot of brushing, it becomes second nature the more you keep at it. Ideally, you want to brush after every meal, assuming you have three meals a day, and again before you go to sleep. To help you brush when you’re away from home, keep a travel brush and toothpaste with you.

To clean hard-to-reach areas between the teeth and braces, use a proxy brush. We also recommend super-flossers to remove food between your teeth and brackets. You may want to try a WaterPik or AirFlosser to get rid of food and plaque buildup.

Use a fluoride rinse.

To ensure your tooth enamel stays strong, rinse with a fluoride mouth wash for one minute every night before you go to bed.

Stay on top of dental checkups.

Remember to schedule your dental cleanings every six months as usual. You never want to skip trips to the dentist while you’re in orthodontic treatment.

If you have any concerns about brushing with braces, contact our office. We’re happy to answer any questions and can provide recommendations if needed.