Brushing can be more of a challenge with braces. How do you brush and floss your teeth around all those brackets and wires? Brushing while wearing braces can be a lot easier if you have the best toothbrush for braces.
Smith and Davis Orthodontics wants you to have the best results possible from your braces treatment. We’ll do our part, but it also means you have to do your part to keep your teeth clean by brushing and flossing daily. We’ll help you out by offering tips on the best way to keep your teeth and gums clean.
Brushing With Braces
Brushing and flossing daily is vital to good oral health. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria and plaque that can weaken your tooth enamel — the hard outer shell that protects the living interior of your teeth. It also removes plaque and prevents tartar (hardened plaque) buildup around your gums, which can lead to gum disease.
Once you get braces, it may seem that brushing and flossing will be harder. While it may be a little more complicated, it’s not really more difficult, especially if you use the right tools. The right toothbrush and flossing tools can make brushing and flossing much easier.
Good oral hygiene habits are important at any time, but they’re especially important during braces treatment. If you don’t brush with braces, you could end up with white spots around your brackets that will be visible once those braces come off. That’s because plaque buildup around the brackets can demineralize the enamel, leaving white spots behind.
You also don’t want to delay your treatment, but that could happen if you get a cavity. Depending on the location, we may have to remove part of your braces so the dentist can repair the tooth. This could delay treatment. So it’s important to keep your teeth clean during treatment so you end up with clean, healthy teeth once your braces are removed.
Flossing With Braces
Flossing with braces could be a real challenge because wires are in the way! How are you going to thread that floss through those wires to clean between your teeth?
Floss threaders are the best tool for this task. They come in two options. One type of floss threader looks like a giant, thin needle that will slide between your teeth and under the wires. You thread the dental floss through the giant eye of the floss threader and slide it between your teeth.
The other option is a string of floss with a thin piece of plastic attached to one end. This serves as the floss threader and allows you to pull the dental floss through your teeth. Each piece of floss is precut, so you don’t have to worry about using too little or too much.
Water flossers can also help. They can remove food particles and plaque from around your brackets, under your wires, and between your teeth. However, they don’t have the scrubbing power of dental floss, so they should be used as a supplement to dental floss, not a replacement.
Best Toothbrush for Braces
Once you’ve flossed your teeth, it’s time to brush. Why floss first? You’ll move food particles and plaque from between your teeth to the surface of your teeth. Then, you can brush that food and plaque away rather than leave it on your teeth.
Which toothbrush is best with braces? Can you use an electric toothbrush with braces? Is a manual toothbrush better with braces? The most important thing is to brush your teeth; either type of toothbrush will work. However, we do recommend an electric toothbrush for braces. We’ll explain why.
Manual Toothbrush
A good-quality electric toothbrush has features that make brushing better and healthier than a manual toothbrush, but manual brushing still works to clean your teeth and gums. If you do use a manual toothbrush, there are certain things to remember when you purchase a manual toothbrush:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Get a toothbrush with a small, angled head for better reach, particularly to the back teeth
- Get a toothbrush with a handle that’s easy to grip, such as one with a wide handle
- Use a toothbrush with colored bristles that fade to tell you when to change the toothbrush
- Change out the toothbrush every three months to maintain effectiveness
You should brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to get around the brackets and over all tooth surfaces and along the gum line. Don’t brush too hard — you could irritate your gums, which may already be sensitive from the movement of your teeth.
Electric Toothbrush
“Can I use an electric toothbrush with braces?” Absolutely! We recommend an electric toothbrush for several reasons.
We mentioned special features with electric toothbrushes that work well with orthodontic appliances. Features vary depending on the toothbrush you purchase. Some toothbrushes have pressure sensors that keep you from pressing too hard and damaging your gums. Others include built-in timers so you brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time. Most electric toothbrushes have disposable heads that can be changed easily every three months.
Electric toothbrushes have other advantages.
- Rotating bristles clean around braces brackets and wires more easily
- Vibration movement dislodges food particles around brackets
- Colored bristles fade to let you know when to change the toothbrush head
- Some electronic toothbrushes have compatible heads with bristles specially made for orthodontics
- Electric toothbrushes offer more scrubbing power without damaging your enamel or gums
You will have to keep up with batteries on some toothbrushes or chargers on others. Still, it will be worth it when you see those clean teeth!
Better Brushing With Braces in Rogers, AR
Brushing with braces doesn’t have to be a challenge. Using the right toothbrush can make the task much easier. An electronic toothbrush makes brushing around brackets and wires easier, especially if your toothbrush has an “orthodontic toothbrush head” option.
Come to us if you have other problems brushing or flossing with braces. We’re happy to help! Schedule an appointment with Smith and Davis Orthodontics in Rogers, AR, if you’re ready for orthodontic treatment and advice on better brushing with braces!