LOve on your teeth.
Excellent homecare - including regular brushing and flossing - is essential to keeping your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. A clean mouth without broken appliances allows for more efficient treatment which means you get the smile you'll LOve, quicker.
Brushing with braces.
It is recommended that braces patients brush their teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You can also use an electric toothbrush to increase brushing effectiveness. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45° angle to the gumline.
Chewing surfaces and the inside surfaces of your front teeth should be brushed using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
Flossing with braces.
Flossing after every meal will keep your teeth and gums healthy, which helps your treatment stay on track. To floss with braces, use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to thread the floss underneath the wire between each bracket. Wrap the ends of the floss around both pointer fingers, leaving a few inches of taut floss between them.
Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gumline to remove plaque and food particles. If you find that your floss is not removing all of the food particles between your teeth and around your braces, a water flosser could be a great alternative.