Brushing and Flossing Teeth With Braces
When you have braces, it’s very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment.
As the best orthodontist Sacramento residents have at their service, you can always get in touch with us for advice on what toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss to use. Reach out to any of our offices and get the best recommendations from our team. We can help you choose the right tools for the right job when it comes to clean teeth and durable orthodontic appliances.
For questions, please call our office today at (916) 924-8970.
PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS
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BRUSHING INSTRUCTIONS
Brushing: Step 1
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum.
Brushing: Step 2
Brush gently in a circular motion.
Brushing: Step 3
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
Brushing: Step 4
Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.
FLOSSING INSTRUCTIONS
Flossing: Step 1
Using a piece of floss about 18 inches long, carefully thread the end between braces and wire. You may find a floss threader helpful.
Flossing: Step 2
Carefully floss around the braces.
Flossing: Step 3
Carefully floss around the gum areas.
Flossing: Step 4
Carefully floss around each tooth.
The American Dental Association (ADA) highly recommends you should use dental floss at least once a day and brush your teeth at least twice every day. However, if you have braces, you should floss and brush after every meal. You should consider improving your routine with an interdental brush and with the help of our step-by-step guide.
All in all, it’s best if you floss your teeth before you brush, as it can help remove the food particles stuck between any teeth, and it can help greatly with the plaque that builds up around your teeth.
We would highly recommend you brush and floss your teeth after every meal. This means you’ll have to use the right toothbrush and some dental floss after every snack and mealtime. Most people will only have time to floss before bedtime, but you should increase that frequency when you wear braces.
Yes. Just to be clear, the bare minimum is to floss at least once a day. However, flossing your teeth after every meal helps dislodge any food caught between your teeth. It’s critical you floss after a meal when you feel food wedged between your teeth to avoid potential infections or inflammation.
Not usually. Please be careful not to use too much force as you can hurt your gums, leading to bleeding. If you want ideal results, try to follow your orthodontist’s suggestions around oral hygiene. Be gentle as you pick up the habit, and build up your dental hygiene routine.