One of the common fears about orthodontics is that the braces may cause decay. This can be avoided if teeth are brushed thoroughly after every meal and snack. You cannot over brush! Your bands and brackets are bonded to your teeth and will cover and protect that portion of your teeth as long as they are firmly attached.

  Your bonded bracketsmay look like this               and your bands something like this

You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food catches in the brackets and between your teeth, and plaque builds up especially at the gum line areas. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it may leave a permanent white scar on the surface.

If you fail to get the teeth and gum tissue clean the gums swell and make it even more difficult to clean. This can also slow down teeth movement. If you notice the gum tissue swelling or bleeding, you should brush the area more not less.

Swollen Gum

Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule. Try to brush at least four times a day. We recommend a homecare package that includes an electric toothbrush and a fluoride rinse. When you're away from home, we suggest you carry your travel toothbrush with you. Brush above, below and on the brackets. Concentrate on the gum line areas. Both steps should take two minutes total. Rinse your mouth. LOOK IN A MIRROR to see if you have missed any places. Check the little half-moon spaces of teeth between the braces and gums. If you see any areas you have missed, clean them now.  The braces should shine like new when finished.

Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. A waterpik can be a useful tool for dislodging food particles and for massaging gums but it cannot remove the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth. A proxybrush is very useful for cleaning around brackets and in spaces between teeth. Flossing is more important than ever and should be done daily.

Floss threaders are needed unless you decide to try Superfloss. It has a threader end, a thicker section for extra cleaning and floss at the other end. It should be very effective. In addition, rinsing with a Listerine product at least once a day can help reduce plaque bacteria and inflammation of the gums.

Lastly, rinsing with a prescription fluoride rinse at bedtime helps to harden the enamel surface of the teeth, thus reducing the risk of white spots and cavities.

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