Maintaining good oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment. Braces, wires, brackets, and other orthodontic appliances can create additional areas where plaque and food particles can collect.

With careful daily cleaning and regular dental care, you can help protect your teeth and gums throughout your orthodontic treatment and maintain a healthy smile.

Why Is Oral Hygiene Important During Orthodontic Treatment?

When plaque builds up around brackets and wires, the bacteria in plaque can produce acids that damage tooth enamel. This can increase the risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and permanent white spots on the teeth.

Keeping your teeth and orthodontic appliances clean helps reduce these risks and supports healthy gums throughout treatment.

Brushing With Braces

Brushing requires extra attention when you have braces. Food and plaque can collect around the brackets, along the gum line, and underneath the wires.

• Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Angle the toothbrush toward the gum line.
• Clean above and below each bracket.
• Brush around the wires and other orthodontic components.
• Use gentle movements to avoid damaging the appliances.

Take your time and make sure you clean every surface of your teeth rather than brushing only the areas that are easy to reach.

Cleaning Between Your Teeth

Brushing alone cannot effectively clean all the spaces between your teeth. Daily interdental cleaning is particularly important when wearing braces.

A floss threader, orthodontic floss, interdental brush, or water flosser may make it easier to clean around wires and brackets.

How to Floss With Braces

Flossing with braces can take a little more time, but it is an important part of your daily routine.

• Use orthodontic floss or a floss threader if needed.
• Carefully guide the floss underneath the main wire.
• Move the floss gently between the teeth.
• Curve the floss around each tooth.
• Clean along the gum line.
• Repeat between all of your teeth.

Your dental or orthodontic team can demonstrate the technique that works best for your particular appliances.

Interdental Brushes

Small interdental brushes can be useful for cleaning around brackets, wires, and between teeth. They can help remove food particles and plaque from areas that are difficult to reach with a regular toothbrush.

Use an appropriately sized brush and avoid forcing it into tight spaces.

Water Flossers

A water flosser can be a useful addition to your oral hygiene routine while wearing braces. The stream of water can help remove food particles and plaque from around brackets and wires.

A water flosser should complement, rather than necessarily replace, other recommended interdental cleaning methods.

Fluoride & Orthodontic Care

Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and protect against cavities. Using fluoride toothpaste regularly is particularly important during orthodontic treatment.

Your dental professional may recommend additional fluoride products if you have an increased risk of tooth decay or develop areas of enamel weakening.

Preventing White Spots

White spots can develop when plaque remains around orthodontic brackets and acids weaken the enamel. These areas may become visible after the braces are removed.

Thorough daily brushing, interdental cleaning, fluoride use, and regular professional dental care can help reduce the risk of enamel damage.

Foods to Avoid With Braces

Certain foods can increase the risk of damaging orthodontic appliances or make cleaning more difficult.

• Hard candies
• Sticky candies and chewing gum
• Ice
• Very hard or crunchy foods
• Foods that require biting directly with the front teeth
• Frequent sugary snacks and drinks

When eating harder foods, cutting them into smaller pieces can make them easier to manage and may reduce stress on your braces.

Limit Sugary Foods & Drinks

Frequent exposure to sugar increases the risk of cavities, particularly when braces make plaque more difficult to remove.

Try to limit sugary snacks and drinks and choose water whenever possible. If you consume something sugary, maintaining good oral hygiene afterward can help reduce the amount of time your teeth are exposed to harmful acids.

Gum Health During Orthodontic Treatment

Plaque buildup around orthodontic appliances can cause the gums to become red, swollen, or prone to bleeding.

Cleaning carefully along the gum line and between your teeth can help maintain healthier gums throughout treatment.

If your gums remain swollen or bleed regularly despite good oral hygiene, speak with your dental professional.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Regular professional cleanings can help remove plaque and tartar from areas that are difficult to keep clean at home.

Continuing regular dental examinations and cleanings during orthodontic treatment is important for monitoring your overall oral health.

What If a Bracket or Wire Breaks?

Orthodontic appliances can occasionally become loose or damaged. If a bracket breaks or a wire becomes loose, contact your orthodontic team for advice.

Do not attempt to permanently repair or adjust orthodontic appliances yourself. If a wire is irritating your cheek or gums, your dental or orthodontic professional can advise you on what to do until you can be seen.

Oral Hygiene After Braces

Good oral hygiene remains important after orthodontic treatment is complete. Once your braces are removed, it is important to continue brushing, cleaning between your teeth, and attending regular dental visits.

Your orthodontic team may also provide a retainer to help maintain the position of your teeth. Retainers should be cleaned and cared for according to the instructions provided.

Keeping Your Smile Healthy During Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment can help improve the alignment and function of your teeth, but protecting your oral health throughout treatment is equally important.

Brush carefully, clean between your teeth every day, limit sugary foods and drinks, protect your orthodontic appliances, and maintain regular dental visits.

If you have questions about cleaning your teeth while wearing braces or another orthodontic appliance, the team at Scarborough Village Dental Care can provide guidance based on your individual needs.