Braces are an excellent orthodontic solution to straightening a misaligned smile. However, just like your natural teeth, they also need regular and consistent care. 

Failing to clean your braces and teeth can lead to severe problems such as tooth decay and gum disease down the road because braces are prone to bacteria buildup. If plaque and tartar buildup aren’t removed, it can also lead to demineralisation around the brackets, as a result of which you may have white spots on your teeth behind the enamel. That’s not all! It could also degrade the wires and hooks, affecting the function of your braces.  

So, keeping your braces clean should be high up on your priority list. Unlike cleaning your teeth, cleaning braces can be a little tricky. But don’t worry because there are different tools that will help you keep your smile and braces as clean as possible. 

Interdental Brush

Interdental brushes are a practical and easy-to-use alternative to flossing, especially when you have braces. While flossing with regular floss can be tricky with braces, interdental brushes, with their small heads and wire-bound bristles, can easily fit in the spaces between your teeth and the intricate spaces around the wires and brackets of your braces. 

Water Flosser 

Also known as oral irrigators, water flossers are electrically charged devices that use a pressurised stream of water to remove food particles, bacteria and plaque in the nooks and crannies of your braces and teeth. 

It has a reservoir that holds water, a motor pump that generates water pressure and a nozzle that directs this pressurised water between your teeth, along the gum line and around braces. 

If you are new to using a water flosser, you can start with the lowest setting and gradually increase the pressure as you get more comfortable. To get the most out of your water flosser, angle the tip correctly, at a 90-degree angle, when cleaning around your braces.

Superfloss

Superfloss has regular floss thread, a spongy floss and a dental floss threader attached to a stiffened end, all in one package, making it easier to reach those tight spaces under your brackets and wires. The stiff end makes it easier to insert between braces, and the spongy floss attached to it helps remove plaque. 

Floss-Threader 

This needle-like piece of plastic makes flossing around braces easier by allowing you to thread the floss through the spaces between your teeth and under the wires. 

Soft-Bristled Toothbrush 

Now that you have braces, brushing may take more time. However, these old yet trusty companions also play an important role in keeping your braces and teeth clean. Brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and above and below the brackets to ensure all food particles and plaque are removed. Don’t forget – brushing twice a day for two minutes using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste is the way to go! 

Mouthwash 

Swishing your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash is the perfect finishing touch to your daily dental care routine. A rinse of fluoride mouthwash will not only strengthen your teeth and enamel but will also help keep plaque at bay, reducing the risk of dental problems such as tooth decay and cavities from developing. 

Ultimately, the type of tools suitable for you will depend on the type of braces and your personal preferences. But there’s no need to stress about it because our dentists at Warrnambool Smile Dental will help you choose the right tools that work best for you. 

In addition to using these tools, you can maintain good oral hygiene and keep your braces clean by visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings and avoiding sugary, starchy, sticky and hard-to-chew foods.