Brushing Your Teeth With Braces

At Pedodontics, P.C., we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile. That’s why we’re committed to helping our patients achieve one by providing high-quality dental treatment as well as orthodontic treatment like traditional metal braces. But in addition to in-office treatment, how you care for your teeth at home is fundamental to your orthodontic success, and part of that is using the proper technique for brushing with braces.

How to Brush with Braces

Brushing your teeth while wearing braces is still the same fundamental process as normal, but there are a few tweaks you’ll need to make in terms of technique. We recommend using a soft-bristle toothbrush while wearing braces, as this is effective in removing plaque and bacteria but won’t cause damage to the gums. You can also use an electric toothbrush to make things a little easier, but remember to keep it at a moderate setting and not to let the back of the brush head hit your brackets, as this can damage them. When brushing, you’ll use the same basic technique as you would when brushing your teeth normally: use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and brush your teeth with small, circular motions, being careful to cover every exposed area of tooth surface. The main difference is that when brushing the front side of teeth, you’ll want to alternate tilting the bristles upwards and downwards. This allows you to clean the spaces behind the brackets on the top and bottom side, which are magnets for trapping food, debris, and plaque.

Contact Your Omaha, NE Orthodontists

We hope this guide helps you ensure you’re using proper technique when brushing your teeth during orthodontic treatment, and if you still have questions on maintaining oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, we’re always here to help. Contact us today to ask any questions you still have about brushing technique or to schedule a check-up at our Omaha orthodontic office. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we’re excited to help you achieve your dream smile!