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      How to Brush and Floss Your Teeth with Braces

       

       

      After you get your braces, you might feel a little sore and your teeth may be tender to biting for 3-5 days. If it’s severe, take Advil®/Tylenol® to ease the discomfort. Your lips, cheeks and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and get used to the braces. Remember to wear a sports mouthguard over your braces when playing contact sports.

       

      You can use an extra soft manual toothbrush to keep your braces clean.

      Start by brushing in circular motions on top of the brackets and all of the teeth. You will need to brush under and over the braces as well. Make sure you are using enough pressure to clean all around the brackets completely. Your toothbrush bristles should go up the sides of the brackets and under the wire.
      Use a scrubbing motion to thoroughly clean all of the biting surfaces of your teeth as well. In a sweeping motion, gently brush the tongue side surfaces of the teeth, starting from the gums and sweeping away from the tooth.
      Lastly, don’t forget to always brush your tongue! Use the same sweeping motion to brush from the back of your tongue towards the front.
       

      Brushing and Flossing

      • Use your electric toothbrush to brush above, below and directly on your brackets.
      • Brushing should take 2-3 minutes.
      • Brush around the wire and floss your teeth at least twice daily. It’s best to brush after every meal if possible.
      • Make sure to use a floss-threader or Superfloss® to get under the wire so that you can floss in between the teeth.
      It’s important to have regular cleanings at your dental office. We recommend going every 6-12 months.


      Wax

      We will give you wax to take home to cover brackets that are irritating your lips and cheeks. Just take a small amount (the size of a small pea) and roll it into a ball. Dry the bracket with a tissue and press the wax onto the bracket. Use as needed. Remove wax when eating.

       

      Rinse for Sore Mouths

      If the brackets cause any sores in your mouth, mix one teaspoon of salt in a small glass of lukewarm water and rinse for 1 minute. This will help your tissues and along with using wax, the sores will go away.