HOW TO BRUSH WITH BRACES:

1) We Recommend brushing after every meal. Even if you don’t have toothpaste handy, brushing with just water will help remove the held on food and plaque

2) Angle your brush about 45 degress to help get between the wires and the teeth

3) Circular brushing motions help to get into all the nooks & crannies of braces

FLOSSING WITH BRACES:

1) Run your floss strip through a “Floss Threader”. You can also purchase floss that has a stiff end to simplify the process (ie. “Superfloss”)

2) Pass the threader behind the wire and pull up to pass the floss behind the wire.

3) Gently rub the floss against the sides of the teeth and get all the way down under the gum.

4) Pull the floss all the way out and then use the threader to get to the next 2 teeth. The process takes longer than normal, but flossing is critical while in braces to prevent cavities that form between the teeth.

POOR BRUSHING WILL SHOW:

Failing to keep your teeth and braces clean will cause permanent white spots to form around the braces. These spots can be very visible once the braces are removed and can even turn into cavities.