How to Keep Teeth Clean with Braces
Getting braces is an exciting step toward a straighter smile—but it also means taking extra care of your teeth and gums.
The truth is that braces can make it more challenging to maintain oral hygiene. With wires, brackets, and bands creating countless hiding spots for food and plaque, staying on top of your cleaning routine is more important than ever.
We’ve got you covered if you’re wondering how to keep your teeth clean with braces without feeling overwhelmed. At Ria Family Dental, we’re here to help you make the most of your braces journey—with tips that make oral hygiene simple, effective, and part of your everyday routine.
Why Oral Hygiene Matters More with Braces
When you wear braces, food particles and bacteria get trapped in the spaces between brackets and wires. This can quickly lead to plaque buildup, which hardens into tartar and causes tooth decay, gum inflammation, and permanent stains if not appropriately addressed.
Neglecting your oral hygiene while wearing braces can compromise your final results. After months—or even years—of orthodontic treatment, the last thing you want is a smile that’s straight but unhealthy.
That’s why learning to keep teeth clean with braces is more than just a good habit—it’s essential.
Must-Have Tools for Cleaning with Braces
You’ll need more than a toothbrush to keep your teeth in top shape while wearing braces. The following tools can make your cleaning routine more effective and less frustrating:
Interdental brush – This cone-shaped brush reaches between brackets and under wires to reach debris and gunk and flush it out before you brush and floss.
You can purchase them online, with all kinds of options.
Floss and floss threader – use floss threaders and floss just like a needle and thread to get the floss between your teeth.
Orthodontic Toothbrush—While a regular soft-bristled toothbrush is okay, an orthodontic toothbrush with a V-shaped bristle design can make brushing around braces much easier.
Be sure to replace your toothbrush more often than usual, as the brackets may wear it faster.
Water flosser—A water flosser is one way to remove food, bacteria, and plaque from around braces.
Look for a water flosser with an orthodontic tip specially designed for braces.
Water flossers are clinically proven more effective than dental floss alone for people with braces.
Compact Mirror – Keep a small mirror (with or without a light) in your bag to check your teeth after meals or snacks. It’s a great way to ensure you’ve removed all the food particles before heading back to school or work.
Brushing with Braces
Before you brush, rinse your mouth with water to loosen any food stuck in the mouth. Brush your gum line at a 45-degree angle.
Next, position the toothbrush on the brackets, angling down to brush on top of each bracket.
Then, reposition the toothbrush to brush the bottom of the bracket and the wire, angling the toothbrush up. Reach every tooth at the gum line and above and below the brackets.
Flossing with Braces
The old-fashioned flossing technique is a great way to clean away food and plaque, but it can be a bit more difficult for people with braces, as working floss around brackets and wire takes time and care.
Allocate 10 to 15 minutes to floss your teeth. The only tool you need is waxed floss, although a floss threader can help.
Don’t use unwaxed floss; it can tear and get stuck in the metal brackets.
How to use traditional floss with braces
- 18- to 24-inch pieces of floss.
- Thread the floss between the primary wire and your teeth. Do this in front of a mirror if it helps you.
- Wrap the floss around your index fingers.
- Gently press the floss between the two teeth and slide it up and down along the sides of both teeth in a U shape around each tooth.
- Remove the floss and gently pull it from behind the wire. Do not pop the floss out, as this could hit the wire, so pop it from the bracket.
- Move to the next two teeth and repeat.
Retainer Care
Like your braces and teeth, your retainer should be clean. If you are not wearing your retainer, soak it in a rinse to keep it fresh and bacteria-free. You should also clean your retainer daily.
Additional Tips
If your toothbrush is unavailable, there are ad-hoc ways to protect your teeth. Vigorously rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash, then brush as soon as possible.
Also, to protect your soft tissues, you can place a special wax on braces to prevent them from chafing or cutting. This wax is available at pharmacies or at your Yeronga dentist.
Braces Aftercare in Yeronga
At Ria Family Dental, we support you every step of the way—whether you’re getting braces, already wearing them, or adjusting to life after treatment. Our welcoming team is dedicated to assisting you in achieving a healthier and straighter smile.
Call your Yeronga dentist on 0451 359 356 or make your online appointment. You can also visit us at 451 Fairfield Rd in Yeronga.