Exploring the Best Tools to Use at Home to Clean Your Teeth in Braces

If you wear braces, then you know that flossing and brushing your teeth have become more important than ever. Braces make it more difficult to reach into your mouth and clean your teeth. Failing to brush and floss properly while wearing braces can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. In addition to practicing good oral hygiene, you also need to regularly clean the appliances that hold your braces in place. This includes brushing them daily. Listed below are the tools you can use to clean your teeth while in braces:

• Toothbrush

Brushing your teeth is the most important part when it comes to keeping your teeth and braces clean. You should brush for two to three minutes twice a day. Remember to brush your teeth after each meal and before going to sleep.

You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a bi-level brush head on your electric toothbrush. The soft bristles will clean around brackets, wires, and under your gums without scratching them or damaging your orthodontic appliances. Special brushes with angled heads can also help you to clean under the wire of your braces.

Make sure to choose a toothpaste that does not contain a lot of abrasive particles in it. Certain whitening toothpaste and pastes contain ingredients that may scratch enamel and damage the polish of your appliances. A gentle fluoride gel can help to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.

• Dental Floss

One of the best tools that you can use to clean your teeth with braces is dental floss. However, you should use special orthodontic floss that is easier to thread through spaces between your wires and brackets than regular floss. Orthodontic floss comes in a variety of flavors, so you can easily find one you like. It also comes in waxed and unwaxed versions. Waxed floss may be easier to maneuver between tight teeth, but some people find that unwaxed floss slips more easily into tight spaces.

In addition to regular dental floss, there are other products you can use to keep your mouth clean while wearing braces. These include interdental brushes, water picks, and interproximal toothbrushes. While these products aren’t essential, they can be helpful for longer cleaning sessions or for people with braces who find it difficult to properly clean their teeth with regular flossing. Talk to your orthodontist about which type is best for you.

You can also use oral irrigators to clear debris from between your teeth. These devices offer the advantage of being very portable and easy to use. Oral irrigators are typically not powerful enough to remove visible food particles, but they can be useful for smokers who want to clear tobacco residue from their teeth and gums.

• Interdental Brushes

An interdental brush is a small brush that is designed to clean between your teeth and underneath brackets or other appliances. These brushes come in different sizes and shapes in order to fit easily between teeth. Because these brushes are small, they can be used to clean under appliances and around braces without coming into contact with the gums. This helps to prevent gum irritation and other complications.

Some of the benefits of using an interdental brush include the following:

• Easy to use
• Inexpensive
• Ideal for cleaning around braces or hard-to-reach areas
• Can be used with water, mouthwash, or toothpaste of your choice
• Helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease

• Water Flosser

A water flosser is a great way to remove bacteria and food particles from your teeth and braces without having to use your hands or mouth to do so. The water flosser is safe to use on braces and will do a great job of removing plaque and food debris that can build up around your brackets and wires over time if not cleaned properly.