How to Brush Your Braces

The American Academy of General Dentistry recommends brushing after every meal and scheduling a professional teeth cleaning every six months. Brushing your teeth while wearing braces takes time and requires extra effort since you must clean around and under the brackets and wires to remove plaque, bacteria and debris. Neglecting to brush properly may lead to cavities, tooth stains and gum disease. Follow your dentist's instructions for oral hygiene and brushing techniques while wearing braces.

Things You'll Need

• Soft-bristle toothbrush
• Fluoride toothpaste
• Dental floss

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove rubber bands and detachable hardware prior to brushing. Discard used rubber bands and thoroughly rinse and clean any removable appliances. Ask your orthodontist for extra rubber bands if needed.

• 2

  Apply a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste to a soft-bristle toothbrush. Some people find electric toothbrushes helpful, as brushing with braces requires targeting each tooth individually.

• 3

  Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with the bristles facing slightly downward. Begin with your upper teeth, brushing the outer surface of your back tooth in a gentle circular motion. Brush the top of the wire, the upper tooth and the gum-line. Angle your toothbrush slightly upward and brush below the wire on the same tooth, cleaning the lower portion of the tooth and braces. Work your way around your upper teeth, brushing the front surface of each tooth individually.

• 4

  Use the same technique for your lower teeth, angling the brush up for the lower portion of the tooth and down for the upper portion. Pay special attention to the pins and wires of your braces. Adjust the angle as needed to remove any food or plaque that may have accumulated between the wire and your teeth.

• 5

  Rinse your toothbrush and reapply the toothpaste. Beginning with your upper teeth again, hold your toothbrush vertically and brush the back surface, inner gum-line and the biting surface of each tooth. Turn your toothbrush upside-down and brush the back and biting surface of your lower teeth using the same technique.

• 6

  Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove debris between the teeth. Flossing with braces can be tricky and your dentist may recommend special dental floss made for use with braces. Follow your dentist's instructions on flossing to avoid damaging the hardware.

• 7

  Rinse your mouth with water and examine your teeth and braces thoroughly. Use your toothbrush or floss to remove any remaining food or plaque. Finish your oral hygiene routine with a fluoride rinse if your dentist prescribed one.