Brush
Brushing with braces is extremely important. You should brush after each time you eat (at least 3 times per day). You should take a toothbrush with you to school or work. Use small circular motions to clean the teeth and braces. Be sure to brush the area between the braces and the gumline. This area commonly accumulates food and plaque and must be cleaned regularly.
Interdental Toothbrush
A proxibrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the proxibrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The proxibrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Floss
Flossing the teeth and gums is also important. It removes the food and plaque between the teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. Use the floss threaders to feed the floss under the wire. You should floss your teeth and gums at least once a day.
Fluoride Gel
Fluoride gel helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of fluoride does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. Place a small strip of fluoride on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you brush with the fluoride. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.
Cleaning your appliance
Some patients require special appliances that attach to the teeth. Sometimes these are removable and sometimes they are glued in the mouth. If you appliance is glued to the teeth, you will need to clean under and around the appliance. One of the best tools for this is a Waterpik. A Waterpik will shoot a stream of water or mouthwash under and around the appliance to get the area clean. You can also use your toothbursh to clean the appliance as well. If your appliance is removable, brush it every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, soak the appliance daily. Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent or other denture-cleaning tablet in a glass of tap water at room temperature and soak your appliance once every day. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.