When you have braces, it's very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment.
Brushing with Braces
Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You're also welcome to use a powered toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness.
Using a small circular motion, brush gumline, then above and below braces. After, brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions.
Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
Flossing with Braces
Use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to thread the floss behind each wire.
Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of taut floss between them.
Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles.
Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all of your teeth.
Water flossers are also quite useful in removing plaque from around appliances.
