How to care for your braces

Wearing braces can make dental care slightly more complicated. To prevent gum disease and cavities, you need to clean both your teeth and braces properly. Cleaning with a regular toothbrush is not enough – you often need additional cleaning products. Your dentist/orthodontic assistant can guide you to suitable products for orthodontic care and show you how to use them. If you have removable braces, make sure to brush them too, using a toothbrush and water.

How to clean your braces

1. Start by rinsing your mouth with water, to loosen food debris that has been trapped around the wire.
2. Then clean the teeth and braces with a toothbrush using small circular motions. Don’t forget to angle the brush towards the gum line.
3. Finish by brushing the inside and chewing surfaces.

To get a good result, you will need to clean where the toothbrush cannot reach. A small toothbrush with a round head is useful for cleaning around the brackets and gum line. An interdental brush will help clean under the wire and between the teeth.