Brushing and Flossing


Brushing Instructions
You should brush after every meal. If you cannot brush right away, rinse well with water.

Before Brushing:
  • Your toothbrush should have a small head and soft bristles.
  • Brush in the morning, before bed, and after meals.
  • If you can't brush after meals, be sure and do a good rinsing with water in your mouth after meals. You may want to carry a travel toothbrush with you so you can brush after meals no matter where you are.
  • It is important to brush very thoroughly for at least three minutes once a day.
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste.

While Brushing:
  • Turn the toothbrush at an angle.
  • Brush over the front and back and chewing areas of each tooth.
  • Use slow, circular motions.
  • Brush thoroughly over your braces' wires and brackets, getting between them and cleaning as much of the surface as possible.
  • Brush your gums as well as your teeth.
  • Brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue.

After Brushing:
  • Be sure and look at your teeth very thoroughly in the mirror to make sure you have gotten rid of all the plaque on your teeth.
  • Brush more than once at a time if necessary to remove plaque.

1. Use a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste. Place bristles where gums and teeth meet. 2. Use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines, 10 seconds on each tooth.
3. Brush slowly, each arch separately, every tooth. 4. Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth too!

Flossing Procedures
Floss at least once a day to remove hard to reach particles between teeth and plaque that toothbrush misses.

Additional items can be used to keep your teeth clean:
  • A fluoride mouth rinse or gel.
  • An interproximal brush.
  • Other interdental cleaners recommended by your orthodontist

1. Carefully pull unwaxed floss between wire and braces. A floss threader may be helpful. 2. Floss carefully around the braces.
3. Floss carefully around the gum area. 4. Floss carefully around each tooth. Make sure to rinse your mouth out afterwards to remove anything loosened by the floss.

Examples of healthy and unhealthy teeth resulting from proper and improper hygiene:
Flossing and brushing while wearing braces will help keep your gums healthy and plaque from building up on your teeth. Red swollen gums and plaque build-up result when teeth are not taken care of while wearing braces.
Healthy teeth with braces.
Unhealthy teeth with braces.
The result of brushing and flossing your teeth while wearing braces: A beautiful, healthy smile! These teeth have stains on them and the gums are red and swollen from bad car while wearing braces.
Healthy teeth.
Unhealthy teeth.