Braces are a great way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile, but they also come with some challenges. You may have to deal with some discomfort, inconvenience, and extra care for your teeth and braces. But don’t worry, it’s not that hard once you get the hang of it. In this blog post, we will share with you some tips and tricks on how to care for your teeth when you have braces, and how to avoid common problems like cavities, gum disease, and staining.

Why You Need to Take Care of Your Teeth with Braces

Braces are made of metal wires, brackets, and bands that apply pressure on your teeth to move them into the desired position. They can also trap food particles, plaque, and bacteria in the spaces between your teeth and braces. This can lead to tooth decay, gum inflammation, bad breath, and staining of your teeth and braces. If left untreated, these problems can affect your oral health and the outcome of your orthodontic treatment.

That’s why you need to maintain excellent oral hygiene when you have braces. By following a few simple steps, you can keep your teeth and braces clean and healthy, and enjoy the benefits of a beautiful smile.

How to Brush Your Teeth with Braces

Brushing your teeth is the most important step in caring for your teeth with braces. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after every meal and snack. This will help remove any food residue, plaque, and bacteria from your teeth and braces, and prevent them from causing damage.

Here’s how to brush your teeth with braces effectively:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or an electric toothbrush with a round oscillating head. A soft toothbrush will be gentle on your gums and braces, and an electric toothbrush will help you reach all the areas of your mouth more easily.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste with at least 1000 ppm of fluoride. Fluoride will help strengthen your enamel and protect your teeth from cavities. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, you can also use a toothpaste with desensitising ingredients.
• Rinse your mouth with water before brushing to loosen any food particles stuck in your braces.
• Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line and brush gently in small circular motions. Make sure you brush the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of each tooth, as well as the brackets and wires of your braces. Pay special attention to the areas where your braces meet your teeth, as these are more prone to plaque buildup.
• Brush for at least two minutes, spending about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth.
• Rinse your mouth with water after brushing to remove any remaining toothpaste or debris.

How to Floss Your Teeth with Braces

Flossing your teeth is another essential step in caring for your teeth with braces. Flossing will help you remove any food particles, plaque, and bacteria that are trapped between your teeth and under your gum line, where your toothbrush can’t reach. You should floss your teeth at least once a day, preferably before bedtime.

Flossing with braces can be a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible. You just need to use some special tools and techniques to make it easier. Here’s how to floss your teeth with braces effectively:

• Use a dental floss that is waxed or coated, as this will glide more smoothly between your teeth and braces, and prevent it from shredding or getting stuck. You can also use a superfloss, which has a stiff end, a spongy section, and a regular floss section, and is designed for people with braces and other dental appliances.
• Use a floss threader, which is a plastic loop that helps you insert the floss under the wire of your braces. You can also use an orthodontic flosser, which is a disposable device that has a floss section and a plastic handle, and works like a floss threader.
• Take about 18 inches of floss and thread it through the loop of the floss threader or the orthodontic flosser. Alternatively, you can use the stiff end of the superfloss to insert it under the wire of your braces.
• Gently slide the floss between two teeth, and curve it into a C-shape around one tooth. Move the floss up and down along the side of the tooth, and under the gum line. Repeat this for the other tooth.
• Remove the floss and move to the next space between two teeth. Repeat the process until you have flossed all the teeth in your mouth.
• Rinse your mouth with water after flossing to remove any remaining floss or debris.

How to Rinse Your Mouth with Braces

Rinsing your mouth is another helpful step in caring for your teeth with braces. Rinsing will help you wash away any food particles, plaque, and bacteria that are left in your mouth after brushing and flossing. It will also help you freshen your breath and prevent bad odors.

You should rinse your mouth at least once a day, preferably at night before going to bed. You can use plain water, or a mouthwash that contains fluoride and/or antibacterial agents. Fluoride will help prevent cavities, and antibacterial agents will help prevent gum disease.

Here’s how to rinse your mouth with braces effectively:

• Choose a mouthwash that is suitable for your needs and preferences. You can ask your dentist for a recommendation, or look for a mouthwash that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means that it has been tested and proven to be safe and effective.
• Pour about 10 ml of mouthwash into a cup or a bottle cap, and swish it around your mouth for about one minute. Make sure you reach all the areas of your mouth, especially the spaces between your teeth and braces.
• Spit out the mouthwash and avoid rinsing your mouth with water, eating, or drinking for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the mouthwash to work longer and more effectively.

How to Avoid Common Problems with Braces

Besides taking care of your teeth with braces, you should also avoid some common problems that can affect your oral health and the outcome of your orthodontic treatment. These problems include:

• Cavities: Cavities are holes in your teeth that are caused by tooth decay. Tooth decay is the result of plaque and bacteria breaking down the sugars and starches in your food and producing acids that erode your enamel. To prevent cavities, you should brush your teeth after every meal and snack, floss your teeth once a day, rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash once a day, and visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. You should also limit your intake of sugary and starchy foods and drinks, such as candy, soda, juice, and bread, and drink plenty of water to wash away any food residue and acids.
• Gum disease: Gum disease is an infection of the gums that can cause inflammation, bleeding, pain, and bad breath. Gum disease is caused by plaque and bacteria that accumulate under the gum line and irritate the gum tissue. To prevent gum disease, you should brush your teeth after every meal and snack, floss your teeth once a day, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash once a day, and visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. You should also avoid smoking, as smoking can impair your immune system and make you more prone to gum disease.
• Staining: Staining is the discoloration of your teeth and braces that can affect your appearance and self-confidence. Staining is caused by certain foods and drinks that have strong colors or pigments, such as coffee, tea, wine, berries, and curry. To prevent staining, you should brush your teeth after every meal and snack, floss your teeth once a day, rinse your mouth with water after consuming any staining foods or drinks, and visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. You should also avoid smoking, as smoking can stain your teeth and braces as well.

How to Care for Your Braces

Besides taking care of your teeth, you should also take care of your braces. Your braces are delicate and can break or loosen if you are not careful. Broken or loose braces can cause discomfort, pain, and delay your treatment progress. To care for your braces, you should:

• Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods and objects, such as nuts, popcorn, ice, gum, caramel, and pens. These can damage your braces and get stuck in them.
• Cut your food into small pieces and chew with your back teeth. This will reduce the pressure on your braces and prevent them from breaking or loosening.
• Wear a mouthguard when playing sports or doing any physical activity that can cause injury to your mouth. A mouthguard will protect your teeth and braces from impact and trauma.
• Check your braces regularly for any signs of damage or looseness. If you notice any broken or loose wires, brackets, or bands, contact your orthodontist as soon as possible. Do not try to fix them yourself, as you may cause more harm than good.
• Follow your orthodontist’s instructions on how to adjust your braces. Your orthodontist may give you some tools and instructions on how to adjust your braces at home, such as using a rubber band or a key. This will help you keep your braces in the right position and speed up your treatment process.