How to Keep Your Braces Clean

Malocclusion is the term for crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth, which can lead to many problems affecting how you eat and speak. Several issues that affect kids and adults alike can cause it, and dental braces are the go-to solution for managing it. As many as four million people in America either need or already have braces, including 65% of adults with misaligned teeth. 

There are many ways to correct this problem, offering everyone a solution to improve their smile. However, once you have braces, what does it take to care for them and ensure they stay clean? To answer that question, we can look at how the process works, the types of braces available, and what you need to do to keep them in great shape as they help to straighten your teeth.

If you live in Brea or Banning, California, and need help with braces or other dental devices, Dr. Ayed Hawatmeh and the team at Bravo Dental Group can help.

How braces work

Braces force teeth into their proper position over time using pressure exerted in various stages. This process happens by slowly causing the bone around the tooth to change, moving it to a new position, and allowing the jawbone to adapt as necessary to accommodate the alignment. After the process, retainers help teeth settle into their new position and prevent them from reverting to their previous spaces.

Types of braces

Correcting various types of bite problems can be managed using these different devices:

• Metal, the traditional type that uses wires to connect to metal bracelets
• Ceramic, a similar method to metal braces, but with tooth-colored ceramic brackets
• Lingual, these are placed on the back of teeth instead of the front
• Self-ligating uses a built-in system to keep the archwire in place
• Clear aligners, a system of clear aligner trays replaced as teeth improve

The timeframe for each method depends on your dental needs, taking anywhere from a year to three years to finish.

How to clean your braces

While your braces are straightening teeth, they also provide surfaces for bacteria, food debris, acids, and plaque to form and stick. To prevent that from happening, use these techniques to keep them clean:

Brushing

To clean your teeth and the brackets of your braces, brush back and forth at a 45° angle at the gum line. Additionally, be sure to brush the top and bottom surfaces of the brackets. Holding your lip back to reach everything while brushing can be helpful.

Flossing

Several tools are used to clean between teeth, also called interdental cleaners. Tools like traditional wax floss, proxy brushes, and dental picks can help clean in places where brushing won't reach.

Oral irrigation

Oral irrigation is another term for water flossers. These devices shoot streams of water directly at teeth to flush them and any dental appliances in your mouth, making it easier to reach places where brushing and flossing can’t be done alone.

Germ killers

Mouth rinses and antibacterial toothpaste reduce the amount of bacteria that can build in areas of the teeth that may be hard for other methods to reach. Prescription fluoride toothpaste or rinses can also help to keep teeth and braces clean.

Wearing braces is essential for getting teeth straight, but maintaining them clean while that happens keeps them healthy. For other advice on how to care for braces while you're wearing them, make an appointment with Dr. Hawatmeh and Brave Dental Group today.