Brushing and Flossing

Having a clean mouth is important. It gives you fresh breath and a nicer-looking smile. However, it also helps to keep your mouth healthy. And since your mouth is connected to the rest of your body via the bloodstream, a clean mouth will lead to a healthier body.

During orthodontic treatment, it is vital that you continue to see your Primary Care Dentist at least every six months for regular dental exams and cleanings. Primary Care Dentists and Hygienists can remove the calculus (tartar) that builds up on the teeth. Brushing and flossing do not remove tartar.

Brushing and flossing do remove a thin sticky film that grows on your teeth. This sticky film, called plaque, is the main cause of decalcification (white scarring), tooth decay (cavities), gum inflammation (gingivitis), and gum disease (periodontitis).

Healthy Teeth and Gums

Plaque is made up of:

  • Bacteria (i.e., germs)
  • The food you leave behind when you eat (especially carbohydrates)
  • Saliva
  • Acid (the toxic byproduct of the bacteria)

When you eat carbohydrates (foods made of sugar or starch), you feed the bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria produce acid, which mixes with the bacteria, food, and saliva to form plaque.

If plaque remains on the teeth for too long, it can attack the enamel and leave a permanent, white scar on the surface. The process that causes the white scar is called decalcification, in which calcium is leeched out of the enamel (outer layer) of the teeth by the acid in the plaque.

Braces and expanders do not cause this white scarring; plaque does. If plaque continues to be present, the acid will ultimately leech enough calcium out of the enamel to form a cavity on the tooth.

In addition, plaque acts like a poison to the gums. The gums react by becoming inflamed (gingivitis). If left too long, that inflammation will cause the body to protect itself by breaking the bone down underneath the gums, causing permanent gum disease (periodontitis), which if left untreated, can cause loss of teeth.



Cavities with Decalcification



You will notice that it is harder to keep your teeth clean while wearing braces or expanders because there are extra nooks and crannies. Food becomes caught in the appliances and between your teeth.

brushing with braces

Brushing after meals and flossing will help to prevent plaque from forming and should become part of your daily schedule. An electric toothbrush, such as the Rota-dent® or Oral-B®, is the most effective method of brushing.

However, a manual toothbrush can work well too, if you use excellent brushing technique. Always use a soft toothbrush, and brush with Colgate Total® toothpaste.

When you wear braces, plaque loves to hang out by the gumline and under the archwires. To clean braces, brush in small circles above and below the brackets, making sure to reach the areas between the brackets and the gumline.

Also brush under the archwires of the braces, and use a proxibrush (i.e. "Christmas Tree Brush") every time you brush, in order to clean thoroughly under the archwires faster and more easily.

When you wear expanders, plaque sticks to the plastic and the metal, as well as to where the plastic and metal join, so extra cleaning is critical. In addition, plaque loves to get caught underneath the plastic in the roof of your mouth (palate).

To clean expanders, brush around the bands, plastic, and support arms of your expander, and along the gumline. Additionally, use a proxibrush every time you brush to get into the small, narrow areas.

Every time you brush, at least three times a day, you should also use the l’il palates™ cleaner and Monoject® Syringe or Waterpik®. The l’il palates™ cleaner will dislodge the food and plaque stuck underneath the plastic. Then you may use the Monoject® Syringe or Waterpik® to spray the dislodged food away, like a mouth shower.


After you finish brushing, plaque will start to form again on your teeth in two hours, which is why Dr. Held recommends brushing three times per day: once in the morning, once after lunch or when you get home from school or work, and once at night.

If it is possible to brush after lunch, please do so. However, if you can’t brush after lunch, at least rinse out with water until you get home and can brush.


Flossing with braces takes some practice to master, but is well worth the effort. The first step is to get the floss under the archwire that connects the braces together.

flossing with braces

A floss threader will help you to accomplish this. Dental floss with a stiff end (threader floss) is also available. It is pre-cut and very easy to insert underneath archwires.

Once the floss is under the archwire, it can be wrapped around the tooth on one side, like the letter “C.” The floss is then pushed gently underneath the gum papilla (triangle), then pulled back gently toward the wire.

This action should be repeated four to five times to ensure that all the plaque is removed. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the wire as you pull the floss back toward it. Then wrap the floss around the neighboring tooth, again like the letter “C,” but in the opposite direction, and push it gently underneath the other side of the gum papilla.

Once both teeth are done, the floss is pulled out, and the process repeated for the next two teeth. Use a new, clean position on the floss for each papilla.

Flossing with expanders can be challenging when you have to work around the support arms and bands. Use a floss threader to thread under the expander support arm on one side of the palate, and floss as described above. Then move to the other side of the palate.

When flossing close to bands, after flossing, pull the floss out on the cheek side, instead of back down through the contact between the teeth. That way, you will avoid catching the floss on the band and loosening it.

When you are first getting used to flossing with braces or expanders, we recommend that you set a time limit of flossing one time per day for five minutes, whether you have finished flossing your entire mouth or not, so the process does not become too great a chore.

With practice, as you become a master flosser, the number of teeth that you should be able to floss in five minutes will increase, until eventually, you will be able to floss your entire mouth with braces or expanders in five minutes.

Remember, the germs in your mouth will not give you a break just because you have braces or expanders. In fact, they are happy that flossing is more challenging. It is your job to show them who’s boss.

Hygiene Kit

When you start orthodontic treatment at WingHaven® Orthodontics, Dr. Held will provide you with a hygiene kit, which includes several cleaning aids that you can use at home to help you to maintain excellent oral hygiene while wearing orthodontic appliances:

  • Manual toothbrush
  • Floss
  • Floss threader
  • Toothpaste
  • Proxibrush (“Christmas Tree Brush”)

If you are wearing an expander, there are two additional and essential cleaning aids for you to use:

  • L’il palates™ Cleaner
  • Monoject® Syringe

To protect your tooth enamel, you should also use a daily, over-the-counter fluoride rinse (such as ACT®). Dr. Held recommends you use mouthwash and a Waterpik®, as well.

If you purchase a Waterpik® and you have an expander, you may use the Waterpik® instead of your Monoject® Syringe to clean under your expander.

Also, your hygiene kit includes orthodontic wax for your comfort.

Descriptions of Each Cleaning Aid and Accessories

Manual Toothbrush

When using a manual toothbrush, ALWAYS use a soft toothbrush. Medium and hard bristles are too hard on the gums, and over time, they can cause your gums to recede.

It is wise to use a manual toothbrush in conjunction with an electric toothbrush, such as a Rota-dent® or an Oral-B®. Studies have shown that manual toothbrushes alone are significantly less effective for oral cleaning than electric toothbrushes are, though manual toothbrushes can still do a reasonable job with excellent brushing technique.

When using your manual toothbrush alone or in conjunction with an electric toothbrush, use a circular motion, because a back-and-forth motion will miss plaque. Dr. Held recommends that you use Colgate Total® toothpaste with your manual toothbrush.

You should replace your manual toothbrush every three or four months — sooner if the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush will not do a good job of cleaning your teeth.


Flossing is an exceptionally vital part of keeping your teeth clean, and should be performed at least one time per day for five minutes. It is important to work the floss gently underneath the unattached gingiva (gum) on both sides of each papilla (gum triangle), moving the floss along both teeth adjacent to each papilla, so each side of every tooth is flossed, because plaque sticks to the teeth, not to the gums.

Use a new, clean position on the floss for each papilla. Removing the plaque from underneath the gums is a vital step in excellent oral hygiene.

Floss Threader

Many people believe they can’t floss while wearing braces or an expander, but that is ABSOLUTELY FALSE! It just takes a bit more work to get the job done properly.

To floss with braces or an expander, a floss threader is an excellent aid. To use one, simply thread the floss into the eye of the floss threader, and maneuver the threader under the archwire between two brackets (for braces) or support arm (for expanders), right over a papilla.

Once the floss is threaded under the archwire or support arm, you can then floss normally. Then, just unthread the floss, and move to the next papilla. Use a new, clean position of the floss for each papilla that you floss.

Oral-B® Threader Floss is an alternative to a floss threader. It is a “one-time use” piece of floss with a stiff end – like a built-in floss threader. Oral-B Threader Floss can be found in most pharmacies and grocery stores.


Dr. Held recommends that you use Colgate Total® toothpaste, due to its 12-hour antibacterial protective shield. Colgate Total® toothpaste is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and accepted by the American Dental Association to fight gingivitis.

Proxibrush (“Christmas Tree Brush”)

This small brush is also more commonly known as the “Christmas Tree Brush.” It is a small, cone-shaped brush that easily fits under the archwires to clean away the plaque that builds up there.

When you use a proxibrush, rinse the brush as you clean, so plaque is removed from the brush. The proxibrush is useful to carry with you and to use after meals throughout the day. Replace your proxibrush when it becomes frayed.

L’il palates™ cleaner

The l’il palates cleaner is an essential tool for use when you wear an expander. It has a flexible arm with a soft plastic hook that can fit between the expander acrylic (plastic) and the roof of your mouth.

Gently slide the l’il palates cleaner under the expander plastic, from the front of your mouth to the very back, and use a sweeping motion to dislodge food and plaque. Remember to sweep the sides of your palate, since it is curved like a rainbow.

You should use your l’il palates cleaner along with your Monoject Syringe or Waterpik three times per day, after you brush your teeth.

Monoject® Syringe

The Monoject Syringe is fantastic for cleaning food and plaque out from under your expander, using water pressure. Simply pull back on the plunger with the tip of the syringe dipped in a cup or bowl of lukewarm or warm water.

Then, while leaning over the bathroom sink, aim the syringe tip just under the front of the expander plastic, and push the plunger inward. Repeat until the water is clear of food and plaque. It’s like giving the roof of your mouth a shower.

For even better results, you may use a Waterpik® instead of the Monoject® Syringe. You should use your Monoject® Syringe or Waterpik® along with your l’il palates™ cleaner three times per day, after you brush your teeth.

Fluoride Rinse

Fluoride can help to slow down the deleterious effects of plaque. It’s kind of like a vitamin for your teeth. Because of its positive effects, Dr. Held recommends that you purchase an over-the-counter, daily-use fluoride rinse (such as ACT®).

How Fluoride Works: For those of you familiar with chemistry, fluoride helps to strengthen teeth by replacing the OH- molecule in the enamel with an F- molecule. The F- molecule is stronger than the OH- molecule and thus acts like armor against plaque.


It is wise to use mouthwash to kill bacteria and to freshen your breath. We use Listerine® in our office. Please remember that mouthwash is not a substitute for fluoride.


The Waterpik is an excellent accessory cleaning aid for removing the large pieces of food and debris from around your braces and from under the gums. Please remember that it should not replace brushing and flossing. Use your Waterpik® three times per day, after brushing your teeth (or after flossing, if it is time to floss).

If you purchase a Waterpik® and you have an expander, you may use a Waterpik® instead of a Monoject® Syringe for cleaning under your expander. Just place the tip of the pointed Waterpik® attachment under the front of the expander plastic. Then, while leaning over the bathroom sink, turn on your Waterpik®.

Rinse until the water is clear of food and plaque. It’s like giving the roof of your mouth a shower massage.

Orthodontic Wax

Orthodontic wax is used to stop braces or expanders from irritating your lips, cheeks, or gums. If a part of your braces or expander is causing discomfort, you can take a ball of wax (pea-sized or grape-sized), dry off the offending part of your appliances, and place the wax on the part that is irritating. Make sure to embed the irritating part totally within the wax.

When drying off your appliances, use a cotton swab, a cotton ball, or a tissue to dry the area first, because wax does not stick well in a wet environment. Covering the irritating area of the braces or expander with wax will smooth the area and soothe the adjacent region of the lips, cheeks, or gums.

Orthodontic wax is non-toxic, but it is easier to manage if you remove it prior to eating, brushing, and flossing.

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