How do I clean my braces?
Cleaning Fixed Braces
If you’re wearing fixed braces, please start by brushing your teeth as usual with your regular toothbrush . Be sure to brush the gumline around your teeth as well, so that you can reach the areas between the brackets and your gums.
After that, please use interdental brushes to clean the surfaces of your teeth between adjacent brackets. This will allow you to reach all the surfaces around the bracket.
A water flosser can help rinse away food particles, but it is not a substitute for brushing!
For all other types of fixed braces, please be sure to brush all the spaces created by the braces using small interdental brushes.
Mouthwashes can have an antibacterial effect and thus support oral health. Please consult your dentist or orthodontist to determine how often you should use them. Important: Mouthwashes are not a substitute for brushing!
Plaque-disclosing tablets and solutions help you identify areas you may be missing when brushing.
Cleaning Removable Appliances
With removable braces, you have the advantage of being able to brush your teeth normally, just as your dentist instructed.
The best way to clean your removable braces is with a clean, old toothbrush. This will help you remove soft plaque effectively. You can use a little toothpaste if you’d like for a fresh taste. When cleaning , please hold the braces by the plastic parts, not the wires.
If your braces have developed white, hard deposits that won’t come off, an ultrasonic cleaner can help. If you don’t have an ultrasonic cleaner, there are several options:
— you can ask your orthodontist to clean them for you
— you can soak your braces in diluted vinegar water
— or you can use the well-known braces cleaning tablets. However, these should not be used too often, as they can cause corrosion of the metal, especially at the solder joints.
