Can You Brush Your Teeth with Braces? – What You Need to Know

Whether you’ve just started wearing braces or have had them for a while, brushing your teeth is more important than ever. With braces on, maintaining dental hygiene becomes a bit more challenging and demands extra attention. 

Food particles can easily get stuck in your braces, making thorough cleaning essential. It’s crucial to master the right brushing techniques to keep your teeth and braces in top condition.

Knowing when can you brush your teeth with braces and why it's so important can be the key to ensuring the success of your orthodontic treatment.

Understanding Braces

Dental braces are wire-based devices used by orthodontists to fix crowded or misaligned teeth and jaws. While many people get braces during their teenage years, adults can also benefit from them. The primary aim of braces is to align your teeth and jaws properly, resulting in a balanced bite and an attractive smile. 

However, if you don’t follow proper brushing techniques, you might end up with stains, cavities, or gum infections. To maintain oral health while wearing braces, it's important to follow specific cleaning practices and avoid certain foods throughout the teeth-straightening process.

You can use a standard toothbrush, though you may need to replace it more frequently since the metal brackets can wear down the bristles faster. Be gentle and avoid applying too much pressure while brushing.

Can You Brush Your Teeth with Braces?

Yes, you can brush your teeth with braces. In fact, it is highly recommended to brush your teeth with braces.

When you first get braces, your teeth might feel sore and tender. Despite the discomfort, it’s still important to brush your teeth regularly. This soreness is usually temporary, and you can alleviate it with over-the-counter pain relievers or salt water rinses to make brushing more comfortable.

Is it More Difficult to Brush Your Teeth with Braces?

You might ask, isn't the purpose of getting braces to achieve properly aligned teeth and a healthy smile? 

While that's certainly true, it's also important to recognize that maintaining oral hygiene with braces requires extra time and effort. 

Brushing and flossing must be done meticulously around each bracket, wire, and band. Food and plaque can easily get trapped in your orthodontic appliances, increasing the risk of gum inflammation, cavities, stained teeth, and bad breath if you don’t stick to a thorough cleaning routine. Plaque and tartar can accumulate behind each bracket and beneath the wires and bands, potentially leading to cavities if you don’t take the time to clean effectively.

How Many Times a Day Can You Brush Your Teeth with Braces?

Orthodontists universally recommend brushing your teeth after every meal and snack once you get your braces. It's equally important to brush before bed to prevent plaque from forming and sitting on your teeth overnight. Regularly check your teeth in a mirror after eating to ensure no food particles are left stuck in your brackets.

If food particles remain around your braces or gums, they can lead to the formation of dental plaque. Without brushing after each meal, you risk increased tooth decay and gum disease.

Prepping Before Brushing Teeth with Braces

Brushing might seem straightforward, but brushing your teeth with braces requires extra diligence. You must make good food choices, use the right tools, and select an appropriate toothbrush.

Foods to Avoid with Brace

Certain foods should be avoided while you have braces. Sticky or chewy items (like candy), popcorn, and sugary or carbonated drinks can cause problems. These issues include breaking or loosening brackets, trapping food particles in the brackets, and increasing plaque buildup on your teeth.

Special Tools for Cleaning Braces

There are various tools designed to make cleaning your braces and teeth easier. It is normal for some food particles to linger behind, even after brushing. In such cases, tools like rubber-tipped gum massagers and toothpicks can help. If the food particles are stubborn, rinsing your mouth with water can help loosen them before brushing.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush for Braces

Selecting the right toothbrush is crucial. Consult your orthodontist for their recommendations based on your specific needs. Typically, an electric toothbrush works well—just use it in a sensitive mode. A traditional toothbrush is also effective, provided it’s designed to clean around brackets and wires. 

You might need to replace your toothbrush more frequently with braces, as the bristles wear out faster from brushing around the brackets. Aim to replace it every two months to ensure effective cleaning.

While Brushing Teeth with Braces

Choosing the Right Toothpaste for Braces 

Selecting the right toothpaste is key to maintaining oral health with braces. While whitening toothpaste might have worked fine before, it’s best to avoid it once you get braces. Whitening products can lead to uneven whitening around your brackets, leaving dull squares on your teeth once the braces are removed. Instead, opt for fluoride toothpaste to help combat cavities and keep your teeth healthy.

Mastering Brushing Techniques with Braces

Brushing with braces requires a bit more effort than brushing without them. Instead of brushing straight on, you'll need to use different angles to ensure you clean all surfaces of your teeth. Angle your toothbrush up to get under all the brackets and wires, and then tilt it down to clean around them. This technique helps you reach every part of your teeth effectively.

Typically, you should brush for about two minutes, but with braces, you might need a bit more time to get used to the angled brushing. Aim for two to three minutes to make sure you thoroughly clean your teeth. Many toothbrushes come with built-in timers, but you can also use your phone's timer to keep track while you brush.

After Brushing Teeth with Braces

Your cleaning routine isn’t complete once you’ve finished brushing. To maintain excellent oral hygiene, you still need to floss and rinse. Flossing with braces can be challenging, but there are special orthodontic flosses designed for this purpose. A floss threader can help you maneuver floss behind the wires and get it between your teeth. You can also use flossing picks, which are designed to fit comfortably between your teeth without disturbing the wires.

After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with water, followed by a fluoride mouthwash. Avoid whitening rinses, as they can lead to uneven whitening around your braces. 

Takeaway

Brushing your teeth with braces is essential for a successful orthodontic journey. While it may require some extra effort and the right techniques, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is key to achieving that perfect smile. 

Don't let braces become a barrier to great dental health; with the right tools and practices, you can keep your teeth and braces clean and in top shape.

For personalized advice and top-notch care throughout your orthodontic treatment, look no further than Afroz Burges, DDS, in Pearland, TX.  Whether you're navigating the challenges of braces or preparing for post-brace maintenance, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Contact us today to ensure your journey to a beautiful smile is as smooth and successful as possible!

Schedule your consultation now. 

FAQs

Can I use a regular toothbrush to brush my teeth with braces?

Yes, you can use a regular toothbrush, but it’s best to choose one with soft bristles or an orthodontic brush designed to clean around braces effectively.

How often should I brush my teeth while wearing braces?

You should brush your teeth after every meal and snack, as well as before bed, to remove food particles and plaque from around the brackets and wires.

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