If you are here, it means you are wearing some kind of dental appliance: brackets, aligners, retention wire, or others. You therefore need the right method to brush your teeth properly. Indeed, taking care of your teeth and gums during your orthodontic treatment is essential for your oral health as well as your overall health. Poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can have serious consequences for your oral health. It can lead to oral diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis, or cavities. It is therefore important to thoroughly clean the dental appliance to prevent the onset of these diseases that can damage the treatment.
Here is a guide to help you understand how to brush your teeth with a dental appliance.
The most commonly used types of dental appliances
Brackets
They are most often made of stainless steel or clear plastic, or even the color of your teeth. They are generally fixed on the front of the teeth. Additionally, a metal wire passes through the brackets and is adjusted by the orthodontist to apply the appropriate pressure.
The lingual appliance
Lingual brackets are placed on the inner surface of the teeth to be invisible, unlike traditional metal brackets. They can therefore be much harder to clean. They are accompanied by a metal support behind your teeth.
Traditional bands
These types of orthodontic devices are metal bands wrapped around each tooth. A bracket is fixed on each tooth. They are becoming less commonly used compared to the other orthodontic devices mentioned here.
The retention wire
This is the most commonly used fixed device for orthodontic retention. It helps keep the teeth aligned thanks to a metal alloy wire placed on the lingual side of the teeth inside the mouth. It prevents your teeth from shifting or returning to their original position.
The Aligners
It is A removable device that takes the shape of your teeth. It is made from an impression of the teeth. This impression resembles a mouthguard. It is most often used to correct dental misalignments. Furthermore, it is made either of plastic or resin.
Habits to adopt for proper tooth brushing
It is important to adopt a whole set of good habits to brush your teeth properly with braces. This is the only way to avoid oral health problems.
Here are all the good habits you should adopt:
- Proper brushing frequency: it is important to brush your teeth twice a day: after breakfast and before bed, and after lunch if possible.
- Proper brushing duration: brushing should ideally last at least 2 minutes.
- A suitable toothbrush: You should use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles: manual or electric.
- Changing the toothbrush: You should change your toothbrush or toothbrush head at least every 3 months.
- Proper diet: You should avoid a diet that is too sugary and snacking frequently, as this accelerates the formation of cavities.
You can use the Y-Brush electric toothbrush to brush your teeth properly. Indeed, the nylon bristles of this toothbrush are extra soft, allowing better cleaning of difficult areas compared to a traditional toothbrush. Additionally, the bristles along the entire brush ensure no area of the teeth is neglected.
Brushing technique with braces
It is especially important to have the right brushing technique with braces because they trap all food and bacteria after each meal. Your orthodontist usually advises you on the technique to adopt.
Here is the brushing technique to adopt in all circumstances:
- Place the brush above and below the brackets and brush with a circular motion several times.
- Go over all the teeth and brush them thoroughly, ensuring the toothbrush bristles pass well under the orthodontic wire.
- Make sure the toothbrush bristles slightly cover the gum near the teeth and that it is brushed gently.
- Brush vigorously at the gum line because it is a difficult area to access with braces glued to the teeth but particularly important to brush properly.
- Continue brushing even if the gums bleed, as this indicates that brushing has been insufficient for several days and bacteria have caused gum bleeding.
- Brush all surfaces of each tooth. It is also important to gently brush the tongue and palate.
The equipment to use to complement tooth brushing
1) The interdental brush
It is a small brush specially designed to clean between your teeth. It allows deep cleaning of areas that a toothbrush cannot reach. It allows for particularly thorough cleaning under the orthodontic wire and between the brackets because the back-and-forth movements it enables clean all the spaces. They can be used daily with care to avoid damaging the gums.
How it works:
- Easily insert the interdental brush perpendicularly into the interdental space. The bristles must be in contact with the teeth.
- Make brush movements from the inside to the outside, without rotation, then brush movements from the inside to the outside without rotation.
It is particularly useful for highlighting dental plaque that is not visible to the naked eye. It is a product that colors the areas where food and bacteria remain and need to be removed. It allows you to check that brushing has been especially effective. You can then focus your next brushing on these areas with toothpaste until the discoloration disappears.
How it works:
- In liquid form: Dilute 2 to 3 drops of the liquid in a little water and rinse your mouth with the solution.
- In chewing gum form: Rinse your mouth with clear water, chew half a tablet keeping it in your mouth for about thirty seconds, then spit it out and rinse your mouth again.
3) Dental floss
Dental floss removes plaque located between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach, thus eliminating the bacteria in dental plaque. It can reach deep into the gums and fits better between teeth than a toothbrush. It should be used at least once a day before sleeping. It also helps prevent the development of cavities.
How it works:
- Simply use a floss threader like a sewing needle to help insert the floss under the orthodontic wire, between each pair of teeth.
- Once the floss is passed under the metal wire, slide it between the teeth in the usual way.
4) Fluoride mouthwash
Fluoride mouthwash helps remineralize enamel and protect against and prevent cavities in both children and adults. It is also often prescribed by orthodontists to limit enamel decalcification: the loss of calcium from enamel that can lead to tooth loss or white spot lesions. It is important not to eat or drink for 30 minutes afterward to avoid washing away the fluoride.
How it works:
- Use the amount of mouthwash recommended by your dentist.
- Keep your mouth closed and rinse vigorously with mouthwash, then spit it out.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the importance of brushing your teeth regardless of the dental appliance you wear. We also hope you will be able to apply all the little tips we have given you to achieve successful tooth brushing. If you follow the brushing method outlined and use the necessary equipment, a well-maintained dental appliance helps prevent oral health problems.
