How to Keep Your Teeth & Gums Clean with Braces

While some folks may only need our removable aligner trays to straighten their smile, others may choose to get traditional wire braces. For those folks, it may seem daunting to try to clean under the wires. And if thoroughly cleaning your teeth seemed like a taxing task without the obstacle of braces, it’s even more important to stay motivated in your oral care routine! Our exceptional team at Jones Creek Family Dentistry has a few tips to share to make your dental routine a little easier with braces.

Pre-Brush Flush

Before brushing, rinse your mouth with warm water to dislodge any food particles from your teeth and braces. Do the same for your toothbrush; run the bristles under hot water to clean out any lingering food bits so you can start fresh.

Don’t Rush the Brush

Brushing with braces may take a little longer, but it will be worth protecting your teeth against decay and your gums against inflammation and infection. Take between three to four minutes and angle your brush to get under and around your brackets and wires with slow, gentle and deliberate movements. Be like the tortoise – slow and steady to win the clean race!

Floss Like a Boss

Here’s where you’ll have to get creative in your teeth cleaning to make flossing a daily reality. Traditional wire braces have wire arches that create a sort of bridge between teeth. Once you tear off your piece of dental floss, thread the piece under the arch wire to get in-between your teeth. Consider buying floss threaders, which are relatively inexpensive tools that will make flossing with braces easier.

Use the Right Toothbrush

When selecting your toothbrush, choose one that has soft bristles to not damage on your teeth and gums. Also, you can look for a Proxabrush, which is specifically designed to get to the hard-to-reach areas around your braces.

As always, our team at Jones Creek Family Dentistry is available to answer any further questions or concerns you may have about keeping up with your healthcare routine while in braces. Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Contact Us