Brushing and Flossing

When you have braces, it's especially important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 

Brushing with Braces

Brush your teeth for four to six minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush using fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use an electric toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances as indicated in the example below.

Flossing with Braces

When wearing braces, flossing is a different experience. In order to thread the floss behind the wire you will need to use a threader or floss specifically designed for orthodontics. All of this is reviewed with each patient at the beginning of their treatment. 

As an example of the process, please refer to the diagram below.