Brushing and Flossing

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is always important, but it’s ESPECIALLY important when you have braces. If plaque builds up on your teeth and around your braces, you could develop swollen gums, bad breath, cavities, and discolored teeth. You should brush your teeth after every meal, so make sure you bring a small toothbrush with you to school or work. With braces, your toothbrush will wear out faster, so make sure you replace it when the bristles start to fray.

Brushing Tips

• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush
• Use a small amount of toothpaste
• Use circular motions around the gum line for about 10 seconds on each tooth
• Brush every tooth slowly, making sure you get around your brackets and wires
• Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue and roof of your mouth!

Flossing Tips

Flossing is a MUST, but can be a little tricky at first. We’ll make sure you know exactly how to floss with braces before you leave our office. Floss threaders and waterpiks may come in handy!

• Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces
• Floss carefully around braces
• Floss carefully around the gum area
• Floss around each tooth