ORAL HYGIENE INFORMATION FOR THE ORTHODONTIC PATIENT
Now that you have braces, you will notice how easy it is for food to get caught in them! This is NOT an attractive look (or smell), so it is important to spend some extra time on brushing and flossing.
Permanent stains, cavities, and gum disease are all caused by bacteria that live on and between teeth in a colorless to yellow sticky substance called plaque. Braces make it harder to remove plaque – brackets, bands, Invisalign attachments, and archwires create nooks and crannies that are hard to reach, therefore the brushing and flossing technique is different.
Remember...food belongs in YOUR PANTRY OR refrigerator, NOT in your braces!
Brushing Routine
We ask you to brush 3-4 times daily, after each meal and before you go to bed. If you are brushing/flossing and your gums bleed, it is not the fault of the brush or floss. The gums are inflamed and improved oral hygiene is required.
As long as you are using a brush with soft bristles, use whatever toothbrush you like, either power or manual. Place the soft bristled brush against the teeth at a 45˚ angle. Push the bristles of the toothbrush under the wires and between the teeth. The brush should be vibrated or moved in small circles in one spot, then moved to each area of the mouth. Do this both above and below the archwire. Clean the braces, teeth and gums in a circular motion and do not forget the tongue side and chewing surfaces. When you have finished brushing, the braces will be shiny, the gum margin distinct, the gum tissue firm and a light pink color. A good brushing should take at least 3 minutes. Brushing should be done after each meal and snack.
The nighttime brushing is the most important brushing of the day because our mouth remains quiet and the bacteria have a much easier time digesting those leftover snacks/foods that we have left behind. It is very important to remove every speck of food from your mouth at bedtime.
A sulcabrush is a great tool to assist in brushing as it is small enough to fit around the brackets and behind wires to allow for trapped food to be dislodged and those hard to reach areas cleaned. It is a good idea to carry a travel sized sulcabrush with you to clean around braces while eating away from home.
Flossing Routine
Brushing alone cannot clean the mouth of plaque. Plaque is the major cause of decay between the teeth and must be removed daily. Only floss can reach between the teeth to remove plaque. Flossing during orthodontic treatment is tricky and time consuming, but with practice it can become an easy routine.
To start, use a piece of floss about 18” long. The floss must be threaded under the archwire before it can be passed between the teeth. Be very careful not to snap it as it is moved between the teeth – steady pressure works best. Rub the floss up and down against each tooth surface and the loose collar of the gum tissue. The floss must be re-threaded and this sequence repeated between each tooth in the arch. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth. Flossing should ideally be completed at least once per day to maintain excellent oral hygiene.
