When you have braces, it is very important to brush and floss after every meal and keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask Dr. Brent or the team at Peach Orthodontics. We can help you choose the right products for your teeth and appliance so that you can maintain excellent oral hygiene with your braces in Post Falls, Idaho.
Brushing with Braces
Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use a powered 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. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing after every meal will help keep your teeth and braces clean, and it will also help keep your treatment time on track. To floss with braces, use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss and thread the floss behind each wire. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of taught floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth, using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth and beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until all your teeth have been flossed. If you find that your floss is not removing all the food particles between your teeth and around your braces, call (208) 777-1010 and ask us about a water flosser!
