Oral Hygiene with Braces


Oral hygiene with braces

When you have braces, it’s very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.

You’ll also need to be careful about what you eat to prevent breaking your braces or bending the wires.

Brushing instructions


Brushing: step 1

Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum so the bristles of your toothbrush go under the archwire and between your teeth.

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Brushing: step 2

Brush gently in a circular motion trying to clean each individual tooth. Angle both down into the braces as well as up into the braces.

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Brushing: step 3

Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.

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Brushing: step 4

Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.

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Flossing instructions


Flossing: step 1

Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and as the floss is used, the other finger takes it up.

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Flossing: step 2

Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth.

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Flossing: step 3

Holding the floss tightly, gently saw it between your teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums.

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Flossing: step 4

Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.

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