Tips for Thoroughly Brushing Teeth with Braces

If your child needs their teeth straightened, getting braces is one of the best ways to make that happen. While there’s no denying that braces are effective, there’s also no denying that oral care gets a bit more tricky while they’re on. So how do you make sure your child’s teeth get thoroughly brushed while they have braces?

Be Patient

One of the most important things when brushing teeth with braces is to be patient. Your child is used to brushing their teeth taking a certain amount of time. Once they have braces, the amount of time needed is going to increase. They must be patient enough to take the time needed to do a thorough job. 2 minutes of active brushing is more like a minimum in this case. Your child may need more time to do a good job as they get used to brushing with braces.

Go One Tooth at a Time

Focusing on brushing one tooth at a time is a great way to make sure that each tooth is properly cleaned. The brush should be positioned at a 45-degree angle before gently brushing the gum line. Then rotate the brush to gently brush the top of the bracket. Next, reposition and brush the bottom of the bracket, and underneath it and the wire. Then the inner and chewing surfaces of the tooth can be brushed. Once each tooth has received a thorough brushing, follow up with flossing.

Use Helpful Tools

There are some great tools out there that can make brushing and flossing with braces easier. Start with a soft-bristled toothbrush for general brushing. Add an interdental brush to make brushing under the wires and between the teeth easier. For flossing, use a floss threader if flossing with string floss to make it easier to thread the floss underneath the wires. Alternatively, a water flosser makes flossing a breeze with a tool that allows you to use a stream of water to remove food debris from between the teeth and brackets.

Doing a good, thorough job of brushing the teeth is essential when wearing braces. Braces are great at straightening teeth, but they also make it a lot easier for food to get stuck. If food particles aren’t removed, the teeth may weaken and decay. They may also be more prone to discoloration, something that will be more obvious when the braces are removed later on. Make sure your child knows how to thoroughly brush their teeth while they have braces to keep their teeth healthy and beautiful throughout the straightening process.

Does your child need braces? Click here to request an orthodontic consultation at Maccaro Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry today!