How to brush your teeth properly with braces: a comprehensive guide for clean teeth with braces

Brushing your teeth with braces can be a bit tricky, but it is crucial for maintaining good oral health and a radiant smile.
If you have braces, food debris and plaque can easily get stuck between the brackets and wires.
To prevent cavities, gum problems, or discoloration, it is important to know how to brush your teeth properly with braces.
By using the right tools, such as special toothbrushes and toothpaste, you can thoroughly clean your teeth.

In this guide, we show you how to brush your braces properly, introduce handy cleaning brushes for braces, and share some products that make the process easier and more effective.

Why Brushing with Braces Is So Important

With braces, cleaning your teeth becomes much more difficult.
Food debris can easily get stuck between the wires and brackets, creating an ideal environment for plaque and bacteria.
This can lead to cavities, gum inflammation, and discoloration of your teeth.
That's why brushing your teeth well with braces is essential to prevent these problems and keep your mouth healthy.

How to Brush Your Teeth with Braces: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Choose the Right Toothbrush

When it comes to brushing teeth with braces, an electric toothbrush like the GlowSmile SmartBrush is an excellent choice.
This offers advanced technology with built-in timers and pressure sensors, so you can thoroughly clean every part of your teeth without applying too much pressure.
Thanks to the oscillating movement, plaque is more easily removed from hard-to-reach spots around the brackets and wires, making this brush ideal for people with braces.

2. Use a Cleaning Brush for Braces

A regular toothbrush often doesn't reach all the nooks and crannies of your braces, which is why using a cleaning brush for braces is essential.
These small, cone-shaped brushes are specially designed to clean between the brackets and wires.
After brushing with a regular toothbrush, you can use a cleaning brush to remove food debris and plaque from hard-to-reach spots.

3. Use the Right Toothpaste

When brushing with braces, the right toothpaste can help maintain optimal oral health. GlowSmile Whitening Fruit Toothpaste is perfect for people with braces. The gentle formula effectively cleans your teeth while also helping to whiten and freshen your breath.
It's a great addition to your brushing routine to keep your teeth bright and healthy while wearing braces. You can get it here.

4. Brush in Sections

Divide your mouth into four quadrants (upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right) and brush each section carefully. Focus on:

• Brushing above and below the brackets: Gently brush above and below each bracket to ensure food debris and plaque are effectively removed.
• The chewing surfaces: Don't forget to brush the tops of your molars, where food debris often gets stuck.

5. Clean Your Braces with a Cleaning Brush for Braces

Once you have thoroughly brushed your teeth, use a cleaning brush for braces to clean between the brackets and wires.
Due to the small size of the brush, you can also reach difficult spots, so no plaque or dirt is left behind.

6. Rinse Your Mouth

After brushing your teeth and cleaning your braces, rinse your mouth with water or a fluoride mouthwash.
You can also use a product like the GlowSmile Pro Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaner for a more advanced level of cleaning. This device helps remove bacteria, plaque, and dirt around your braces using ultrasonic technology, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean.

7. Floss Carefully

Flossing with braces is essential to remove food debris and plaque that your toothbrush may have missed. Use orthodontic floss or a floss threader to gently clean between your teeth. Flossing at least once a day helps prevent cavities and gum problems, especially around the brackets.

Bad Brushing Habits to Avoid

It's not just about brushing more often, but especially about brushing well.
Here are some bad brushing habits you should avoid while wearing braces:

1. Brush Hard

Brushing too hard can damage your brackets or wires, possibly leading to repairs. Additionally, hard brushing can irritate your gums, causing them to recede over time. Therefore, be careful and use gentle, circular motions when brushing your teeth with braces.

2. Skipping the Use of the Cleaning Brush for Braces

If you don't use a cleaning brush for braces, you may miss cleaning the spots between the wires and brackets. It is important to use this brush alongside your regular toothbrush for thorough cleaning.

3. Not Using the Right Toothpaste

Using the wrong toothpaste can be harmful to your braces.
Choose a fluoride toothpaste and products specially developed to support the oral health of braces wearers, such as GlowSmile N19 Purple Whitening Toothpaste. This toothpaste helps whiten your teeth and gently cleans your braces without damaging them.

4. Not Flossing

Flossing is just as important as brushing when you wear braces.
If you skip this, plaque can build up between your teeth, which can lead to cavities and gum problems. Make sure to floss daily with an orthodontic flosser to clean around your brackets.

Electric Toothbrush vs. Manual Toothbrush for Braces

When brushing teeth with braces, an electric toothbrush like the GlowSmile SmartBrush offers many advantages:

Electric Toothbrush

• Better Plaque Removal: The oscillating brush head makes more movements per minute, allowing you to clean more effectively around the braces.
• Built-in Timer: Many electric toothbrushes, like the GlowSmile SmartBrush, have a timer to ensure you brush for the full two minutes.
• Easier to Use: For braces wearers, an electric toothbrush is often easier to use because it does much of the work for you.

Manual Toothbrush

• Not Recommended: Although manual brushing is possible, it does not offer the same level of efficiency in removing plaque and dirt around the brackets and wires. Therefore, we recommend using an electric toothbrush, such as the GlowSmile SmartBrush, for optimal cleaning.

Maintaining Your Braces and Teeth

Besides brushing, it's important to regularly take good care of your braces and teeth:

1. Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods

Sticky and hard foods can damage your braces or get stuck in them, making cleaning difficult. It's best to avoid hard candies, chewing gum, or nuts.

2. Use Orthodontic Wax

If your braces cause irritation to your gums or the inside of your mouth, orthodontic wax can provide relief by covering the sharp edges of your braces.

3. Visit Your Orthodontist Regularly

Make sure to attend all your orthodontist appointments. Regular visits ensure your braces are properly adjusted and your oral health is well maintained during treatment.

Conclusion

Brushing your teeth with braces doesn't have to be difficult. With the right tools, such as an electric toothbrush like the GlowSmile SmartBrush, a cleaning brush for braces, and an effective toothpaste like GlowSmile Whitening Fruit Toothpaste, you can keep your teeth clean and healthy. Avoid bad brushing habits, floss regularly, and use advanced tools like the GlowSmile Pro Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaner for a deeper clean.
By following these steps, you ensure that your braces remain in excellent condition and your smile stays bright and beautiful throughout the entire treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often should I brush my teeth with braces?

It is recommended to brush at least three times a day — after meals and before going to bed when you have braces.

2. Can I use an electric toothbrush with braces?

Yes, using an electric toothbrush like the GlowSmile SmartBrush helps remove plaque and food debris more effectively around the brackets and wires.

3. How should I floss with braces?

Use orthodontic floss or a floss threader to clean between your teeth and under the braces wire. Flossing at least once a day is essential.

4. Should I replace my toothbrush when I get braces?

It is important to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and replace it every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are worn.

5. Why is it important to use a cleaning brush for braces?

A cleaning brush helps clean the spots between the brackets and wires that a regular toothbrush might not reach, ensuring a more thorough cleaning.

6. Can I eat normally with braces?

You can eat most foods, but it's important to avoid hard or sticky foods that can damage your braces. Always brush your teeth after eating to remove food debris.