It can be a challenge brushing your teeth when you have braces. Here are a few things to keep in mind when brushing that will not only make things a bit easier, but will help to ensure the best results once your braces come off!
Use a soft toothbrush. It’s important to keep the area above and below your braces clean. That means your gums will come in contact with your toothbrush bristles a lot—and hard and medium toothbrushes can do damage to the sensitive gum line.
Start your brushing with no toothpaste. Just wet your brush and go to work! Brushing with toothpaste creates a foam that can make it hard to see whether you are removing all the food and plaque around your braces. Once you’ve got the braces good and clean, then add your toothpaste and brush as you normally would.
Pick rather than scrub. Your toothbrush has hundreds of bristles that can act like tiny little toothpicks, perfect for reaching the smallest nooks and crannies—exactly the kinds of places food likes to get stuck. So before you clean the surface of your braces with your normal scrubbing motion, use your brush to pick out food and plaque caught under wires and brackets.
Follow these tips along with your regular brushing routine and you’ll keep your teeth and gums healthy—while making your greater smile even greater!