Brushing Your Braces

Once you have your braces on, you may wonder if your teeth are still there under all of that hardware. Rest assured, they are, and they still need you to take care of them. In fact, while you are wearing your braces, you should take even more time for oral hygiene. You still need to see your dentist every six months for your regular cleanings and exams, and you will need to step up your brushing and flossing routine.

Normally, you should brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. However, with braces, there is easier for food particles to get caught in your smile and linger there causing cavities. So, plan on brushing after every meal and when possible, after you have a snack. While it is advisable to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth, you need to take longer with braces, and you should concentrate on brushing one or two teeth at a time.

First, rinse your mouth to remove any loose food debris. You should hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, and brush along your gums. Then, start with your upper teeth and brush from the gums to the tops of the brackets, and then below the brackets. Then brush the bottom teeth, starting above the brackets and then brushing below. When you are done with that, brush your wires, and then rinse to remove any remaining food particles. Flossing with braces can be difficult, and frustrating at first. If traditional floss is giving your problems, you should talk with your orthodontist about using a floss threader, water flosser or a floss pick.

If your dentist has told you that you should consider braces for yourself or your child, our orthodontist, Dr. Kyle Baker will be happy to see you for a consultation. If you live in the Bakersfield, California area and would like to make an appointment at Baker Orthodontics, call 661-322-2263 today. We’re looking forward to your visit.