Brushing With Braces Made Simple

When your child gets braces, brushing becomes a bit more involved. Brackets and wires create small spaces where food and plaque settle easily. If those areas are not cleaned thoroughly every day, it can lead to cavities, swollen gums, and permanent marks on the teeth. 

How To Brush Teeth With Braces

Brushing with braces takes a little extra care. Brackets and wires create small spaces where food and plaque can collect, so brushing needs to be more detailed than usual. The goal is to clean around each bracket and along the gumline without rushing.

Follow these steps:

1. Start with a rinse: Rinse with a Waterpik or water flosser to loosen food around the brackets and wires.
2. Angle toward the gums first: Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, hold it at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline. Gently brush along the gums to remove plaque where irritation often begins.
3. Brush above the brackets: Tilt the brush downward to clean the top edge of each bracket and the tooth surface above it.
4. Brush below the brackets: Tilt the brush upward to clean underneath the wire and along the lower edge of each bracket.
5. Clean the chewing surfaces: Brush the molars carefully. Food can settle into the grooves on the back teeth.
6. Brush for a full two minutes: Clean one section of the mouth at a time, spending about 30 seconds in each area.

An electric toothbrush can help remove plaque effectively, but it still needs to be guided carefully around each bracket and along the gumline.

Tools That Make Brushing with Braces Easier

While brushing is the foundation of daily care, additional tools can help clean around brackets and wires more thoroughly.

Interdental Brushes

These small brushes slide between brackets and under wires. They are useful for removing food that a toothbrush may miss.

Floss Threaders or Orthodontic Floss

Floss threaders are small, flexible loops that help guide regular floss underneath the archwire. Orthodontic floss is pre-cut floss with a stiff end that slides under the wire more easily. Both options allow the floss to reach between teeth, where a toothbrush cannot clean. 

Water Flossers

Water flossers use a steady stream of water to remove food and plaque from around brackets, under wires, and along the gumline. They are a practical option for kids who find traditional flossing difficult.

Professional Cleanings During Orthodontic Treatment

Even if orthodontic care is provided by a separate office, routine dental cleanings should continue throughout treatment. Braces create additional areas where plaque can collect, and professional cleanings help remove buildup that cannot be reached at home. 

At Stanley Pediatric Dentistry, we continue to see our patients for regular exams and cleanings while they are in braces to help protect their teeth and gums during every stage of orthodontic care.

Pediatric Dentist in Overland Park, KS

Good brushing habits during braces help prevent stains, cavities, and gum irritation while treatment is underway. If you have questions about your child’s oral hygiene or would like a professional evaluation, our team is here to help.

To book an appointment at our pediatric dental office in Overland Park, call (913) 345-0331 or visit us at 8575 W 110th St Suite 310, Overland Park, KS.

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