With any type of braces you choose, keeping your smile clean throughout treatment isn’t difficult! All you need are some tips and tricks under your belt and the reminder that all of your hard work will soon be rewarded with a beautiful new smile.
At Matsumoto Orthodontics & Periodontics, we’re proud to offer more advanced forms of braces that are easier to keep clean. We provide self-ligating metal and ceramic braces that eliminate the need for elastics (known for harboring bacteria), as well as advanced BRIUS braces that don’t use traditional brackets or wires at all!
If you’re looking for a more hygienic alternative to traditional braces, ask Dr. Matsumoto about BRIUS on your first visit! In the meantime, we’ve got some tips and tricks to help you prepare.
Here are 5 key tips to cleaning your teeth with braces or BRIUS hidden braces.
1. Don’t be a stranger to your dentist!
Your visits with Dr. Matsumoto don’t replace your general dentist appointments. Professional dental cleanings are still essential! Dr. Matsumoto and your dentist are working together to create a beautiful smile, and neither doctor can replace the other.
Your dentist has specialized tools necessary to remove hardened plaque and tartar on your teeth. Your toothbrush alone can’t provide this depth of cleaning!
Visit your dentist every 6 months (or as often as advised) to ensure that your teeth and gums are strong, healthy, and ready to support your new smile.
2. Use your toothbrush at an angle.
Knowing how to brush your teeth with braces can make all the difference. It’s important that you brush around your brackets, including the tops, both sides, and the bottom sides of each bracket. If these areas are neglected, this can lead to plaque and bacteria build-up pretty quickly.
Use your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, tilted slightly upward, then tilted slightly downward to clean all sides of your brackets. The goal is to clean the entire surface area of every tooth.
Because BRIUS hidden braces are attached to the back surfaces of the teeth, you can brush the front surfaces as you normally would. Use a gentle approach on the back surfaces, where the Independent Movers™ (flexible arms) are attached.
For a thorough yet gentle clean, try using an ADA-approved electric toothbrush with a small head to gently brush around the BRIUS arms!
3. Add mouthwash to the mix.
Can you use mouthwash with braces? You sure can, and we encourage you to do so!
An ADA-approved mouthwash will not damage your braces. After brushing your teeth, rinse with mouthwash to eliminate bacteria, prevent cavities, and strengthen your enamel. Mouthwash will disinfect your braces or BRIUS, and reach spots where your toothbrush can’t reach.
Mouthwash for braces is the perfect way to top off your oral hygiene routine, day and night.
4. Floss is your friend.
Flossing is an essential part of cleaning your braces! If you have traditional braces, we suggest getting some specialized floss threaders to help you navigate between brackets and wires.
A floss threader is a specialized tool that allows you to thread floss through a loop, then thread the loop under your archwires. Regular floss can also be threaded under the archwires by wrapping the floss around one tooth, and moving down toward the gum line to get below the wire.
With BRIUS, you won’t have to make any changes to your normal flossing routine! BRIUS does not use wires, so you don’t have to maneuver around your appliance to reach between your teeth.
5. Keep a braces care kit on hand.
Prepare for the unexpected! It’s a good idea to carry a braces care kit to help with oral hygiene on-the-go.
Here are some helpful tools for your kit:
- Travel-size toothbrush
- Travel-size toothpaste
- Floss
- Interproximal brush
- Orthodontic wax
Interproximal brushes are tiny brushes that fit between your teeth and archwires to remove leftover food from individual teeth. Orthodontic wax isn’t used to clean braces, but it can be helpful for covering brackets or wires that may be irritating your cheeks.
Cleaning your braces means cleaning your teeth after every meal (or at least most meals), which can be challenging when you’re away from home. One trip to the bathroom with your braces care kit can take care of it!
Still have questions about cleaning with braces?
We’ll discuss everything you need to know about cleaning your teeth with braces when you visit us for your complimentary consultation!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions in the meantime. If you’re concerned about keeping your braces clean, ask Dr. Matsumoto about BRIUS! Our team is dedicated to helping you find the right solution – whatever it may be.
Request your complimentary consultation today to begin your journey!
