Home Care: Brushing and Flossing

You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food can get caught around the brackets and wires and between your teeth, and can only be removed by brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it will leave a permanent white scar on the surface. Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule. Use a soft toothbrush with firm pressure and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth; brush in small circles above and below the brackets. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. A Waterpik can be a useful addition but it cannot remove the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth. Electric toothbrushes are great with braces. Flossing is important and should be done every day. The floss threaders are reusable.

Orthodontic Brushing and Flossing

• Brush after every meal
• Use a toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste.Use circular, vibrating motions around the gumline for about 10 seconds on each tooth.
• Brush every tooth slowly.
• Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
• Floss nightly after brushing to remove the plaque missed by brushing.
• Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces.
• Floss carefully around the braces.
• Floss carefully around the gum area.
• Floss around each tooth.