Maintaining a clean mouth is absolutely crucial when you have braces. Braces provide more places for food to hide, get stuck, and decay. Yuck! A clean mouth will help ensure that your teeth don’t get any cavities and that you don’t get plaque build up around your braces that discolor your teeth, have bad breath, or end up with swollen gums.

How do I keep my teeth clean?

We’re glad you asked. There are a variety of ways that you can keep your teeth and braces clean.

The first thing you can do is brush your teeth at a variety of angles. While you’re at it, take the time to brush each tooth for 10 seconds, paying special attention to where your teeth touch your braces. You’ll also want to pay special attention to not just the front, but also the back of your tooth, as this is where a lot of plaque can build up and be totally forgotten.

After you enjoy a meal you’ll want to brush your teeth. Yes, after every meal. This is because the longer food sits in your mouth the more time it has to interact with bacteria and cause decay. If, for some reason, you can’t brush your teeth, at least rinse your mouth with water. This brings us to the next important point: always be prepared. Carry around a small toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss with you so that you can brush your teeth after every meal.

Don’t forget to remove your bands before you brush and use a fluoride rinse and toothpaste to keep your teeth strong. We also suggest using a tiny brush, called an inter proximal brush, to reach spots around your braces that your typical toothbrush won’t reach. Additionally, choosing the right floss for your needs can take time. Regular floss can be difficult to work with, but tools like floss threaders can help get floss into the right space.

Get Regular Cleanings

All of the methods above will help keep your teeth nice and shiny, but regular dental cleanings are still an incredibly important part of maintaining a healthy smile while you have braces. During your regular cleaning the dentist will clean around each tooth, scrape away plaque, and provide fluoride treatment for patients under 11.

Eat Right

A healthy diet leads to a healthy smile. Avoiding processed foods and sugary foods means there will be less carbohydrates in your diet. This results in few carbs being broken down into sugars and causing decay.

If you’re worried about keeping your teeth clean and maintaining a healthy smile, contact us. We can help point you in the right direction of the proper tools to use, and also provide a thorough cleaning so you have a healthy mouth and get the most out of braces.