Food particles and plaque naturally accumulate on the teeth and on braces. This process could lead to tooth decay and/or gum disease. Proper oral hygiene is vital to prevent these problems from occurring during your orthodontic treatment. The extra effort you give to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy will result in a much better orthodontic outcome.
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BRUSHING
Drs. Butterfoss and Barton recommend that you use a soft bristled toothbrush with moderate force and a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Place the toothbrush at an angle so that you feel the bristles under your gum line and use small circular motions. Completely clean each surface of every tooth in your mouth, including the areas above, below and between each brace. Each surface of every tooth should be scrubbed with 10 strokes of the toothbrush. This should take 2-3 minutes.
The doctors recommend that you brush at least 3 times per day: after breakfast, after lunch (or as soon as you get home from school)and at bedtime. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. |
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1. Use a soft toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste. Completely clean each surface of every tooth in your mouth, including the areas above, below and between each brace. |
2. Use circular, vibrating motions around the gum line. Scrub each surface of every tooth with 10 strokes of the toothbrush. This should take 2-3 minutes. |
3. Brush every tooth slowly. Brush the upper teeth down.You should angle the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to clean under the wire and using the same motion, angle the toothbrush toward the gingiva in order to clean at and just under the gum line. |
4. Brush the lower teeth up. Also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth
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Remember that a toothbrush might not reach the areas under the archwire properly. Proper oral hygiene also involves flossing and the use of an interdental toothbrush (Proxabrush), an antiseptic mouth rinse (Peroxyl) and a topical fluoride (Prevident)!
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FLOSSING
Dental floss is a nylon thread that is used to remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth. Flossing is more difficult when you have braces on your teeth. A floss threader may be needed to get the floss under the archwire. Drs. Butterfoss and Barton will provide these for you (note: floss threaders are reusable). Use a piece of floss about 12 inches long. Use the floss threader to get the floss under the wire. Slide the floss up and down along the tooth surface. When the tooth is clean the floss will "squeak" as you slide it up and down along the tooth surface. Be very careful to not pull with too much force on your archwire.
Daily flossing is essential to your dental health. Often neglected, flossing helps improve the overall health of your teeth and gums. Flossing assists in cleaning many of the "hard to reach" spots in your mouth, spots that regular brushing generally misses. By flossing, you alleviate much of the plaque buildup that often causes gum disease.
Although flossing is more difficult with braces, it is critical to your orthodontic treatment. Always floss at least twice a day: once after lunch, and once before bedtime. Proper flossing reduces the risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay.
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1. Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces.
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2. Floss carefully around the gum area. |
 INTERDENTAL TOOTHBRUSH
An interdental toothbrush (Proxabrush) is another aid you may find useful to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy. It can be used to clean under orthodontic wires and around braces. Use this device slowly so you do not damage your braces.
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FLUORIDE RINSE
The doctors recommen that you use a fluoride gel, such as Prevident, or any other over the counter rinse as a dental care preventative. It is not a substitute for tooth paste. Its action is twofold: to re-mineralize tooth enamel which has been exposed to bacterial acids and to act as an antibacterial agent.
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CLEANING A REMOVABLE APPLIANCE
All orthodontic appliances tend to accumulate food particles and plaque just like teeth do. Every time you brush your teeth, brush your removable appliance. Once a day you should soak your appliance in a glass of room temperature tap water with a denture-cleaning tablet, such as Polident or Efferdent. This will help prevent plaque buildup and oral infections and will keep your appliance tasting better.
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Regular Dental Visits
Going to the orthodontist is no substitute for having regular dental visits every 6 months. For some patients dental check ups as often as every 3 months is often recommended. It is important to maintain an excellent routine of dental care.
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