Getting braces is exhilarating. You think about how straight your teeth will be, how great your smile will look, and what a perfect bite you’ll have. But what’s surprising for most people is that maintaining clean teeth when you have metal in your mouth is a completely different experience than what you’re used to.
When rubber bands, brackets, and wires are added to your mouth, there are millions of new places for food to get stuck. Your ultra-efficient tooth brushing routine no longer does the trick. But there’s no need to panic; it’s just the reality of having braces for a year or two.
Why You Need to Change Your Routine Completely
Just imagine how a regular tooth looks versus how a tooth looks with a square glued to it (a bracket). Where there was once a flat surface is now an angle, a gap, and a corner. Every bite of food creates particles that get stuck in the tiniest of spots and all the brushing in the world may get the more accessible particles, but a lot will remain.
That’s assuming the person with braces removes food from above the wire or below or, wraps around it. And let’s not forget those tiny rubber bands that connect the wire to the brackets. They’re like parasite-for-food!
But most people think they’ll just be super diligent when they brush. But even if you are the best brusher known to mankind, you still cannot reach food particles in between the teeth or under the wire unless you have other tools to help you.
Getting Between Your Teeth (Where Everyone Fails)
This is where it gets complicated. Regular floss does not operate with braces on. You can’t just slide floss down between the teeth when a wire is there. You need to thread it through, which can be tedious and extremely time-consuming, to say the least.
There are easier ways to go about it. For some people, using a floss threader (similar to a mini, plastic needle) helps thread the floss under the wire. Other people find orthodontic floss that boasts a firmer end for threading works. Some utilize water flossers that spray debris away without cumbersome approaches to threading.
It’s finding what works for you and consistently executing it daily. For the best advice on how to do it, check out this resource for how to floss with braces as it has step-by-step photos and instructions showcasing different ways to do it.
But whatever approach you take, just know that it’s essential to get debris out from between teeth at least one time per day. Failing to do so too frequently will cause issues that manifest when the braces eventually come off – white spots on your teeth, cavities and swollen gums.
The Right Tools Makes Everything Easier
This is where your regular toothbrush comes into play; however, it’s ineffective because it is not made for braces. Many people who wear braces find they have to switch their approach for something more effective that works around braces and wires comfortably.
Interdental brushes (the tiny Christmas tree-shaped brushes) work wonders around brackets – they angle in and clean things your regular toothbrush cannot reach effectively. Most find they keep a few in their pocket or bag for after meals.
Electric toothbrushes work wonders too – although you must be careful while working around brackets. The vibration helps dislodge plaque and particles, but similar to interdental brushes, you need to maintain an angle with deliberate motions.
Again, water flossers come up as extremely useful for this situation – not as a replacement for flossing but as a supplemental tool. They wash away countless pieces of food particles and make your mouth feel clean, at least until thoroughly cleaned later on down the line at home via different means.
Creating A Routine You Actually Follow
The best-case scenario is that you brush after every meal and floss once (ideally before bed as you have more time). In reality, this scenario is almost impossible for people – especially when they’re at school/work and don’t want to call attention to themselves when they brush their teeth after lunch in the middle of a cafeteria or conference room!
Overall, constant consistency matters more than striving for perfection. Brushing ultra-thoroughly two times per day and flossing once is more than many braces wearers do; therefore, if you’re ahead of the game with minimum requirements, you’ve done well.
Brushing should happen at least upon waking and before bed – these brushings should take no less than two minutes each time at least – plus advanced awareness of all angles of teeth needs to happen constantly – the top mouth first, bottom second – cleaning each side adjacent to each bracket on either side and before and behind every single space – plus angle under the wire – for each bracket. It’s tedious but an automatic process within weeks’ time.
The after lunch situation is what complicates it because you may not always be able to brush after lunch; at least rinse vigorously in an effort to get out any obvious particles stuck in plain view and be sure to carry a mini mirror in case you have remnants of spinach stuck in your braces; no one’s going to tell you there’s something in there.
Foods That Make Life Complicated For No Reason
No one likes to hear about foods they can’t eat; however, there are a handful of foods that create problems with braces; sticky things like caramels and candy can rip off brackets; hard things like ice or popcorn kernels can crack brackets or bend wires.
But let’s get serious; all food is fine if eaten properly (or cut properly) – apples need to be sliced into smaller pieces before biting into them directly; corn on the cob needs kernels cut off first; sandwiches should be smaller bites or even deconstructed until softer enough; burgers may be small bites as well – whatever – cut food makes life easier.
And the food that’s most complicated relative to cleaning efforts includes chips (tiny particles), stringy meat (makes its way everywhere) or foods with tons of seeds. You can eat these things, however, clear plastic after meals will need an extra clean – just know what you’re getting into.
How To Know When Something Is Wrong
The most important piece of awareness involves gum – puffy gums that bleed during brushing are signs of trapped bacteria – your hygiene routine isn’t cutting it. Smelly breath even after consistent cleaning efforts shows there are dead zones somewhere needing assistance.
White spots forming around brackets mean early decay – it means chalkiness compared to white tooth color – and if you get it treated right away with extra love and care cleaning efforts compared to more lax guidelines previously dismissed, it may heal – but it’s not likely so beware of cavities underneath.
Any discomfort around one tooth should not be ignored (versus general soreness from wires); any loosening brackets or pokey wires (but not discomfort attributable from wearers’ bad habits) should also not wait until your next appointed date – any vagueness from within should be treated immediately lest real problems unfold.
What Happens Until Full Treatment
Most treatment sessions run between 18 months – 24 months; that’s a long time for extra cleaning protocols so motivation can wane – but what needs consideration is why someone got braces in the first place – they’re shelling out time and money for something that will improve their appearance – and without protecting their teeth throughout the process, cavities can ruin fillings later on or whitening work.
Many people enjoy taking pictures every few months – progress reports happen with all other dental work – as such help can motivate you for your change over time. Others set reminders on their phones to ensure they floss because that’s usually the first habit dropped.
What It All Comes Down To
Keeping mouths with braces clean takes longer and requires more tools than standard oral hygiene; it’s unavoidable. But it’s not difficult once you find what works for you and creates an effective habit out of it all! It’s completely possible.
It takes less than one month for most people to adapt; what may seem complicated at first becomes automatic; you feel gross once you don’t do it. Before long, you’re done with treatment as time flies with a straight smile you’ve been working toward all along!