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How to Clean Braces: Tools and Techniques

Are you struggling to keep your braces clean?

Braces do a lot of great things for our teeth, but keeping them healthy, clean, and free of food can be a challenge. Often we think that cleaning our braces is too tricky, so we avoid it.

But keeping your braces clean is critical for the health of your teeth and the braces themselves. Braces are a significant investment for most families, so you don’t want them to brake or your teeth to have serious problems when you get the braces taken off.

Keep reading to learn some essential tips to help your braces stay clean throughout your treatment process.

How to Clean Braces

Cleaning your metal braces might sound complicated, but it’s easy to do if you know a few simple tips and tricks.

Save these tips for later and try to incorporate them into your daily routine. The more often you do them, the healthier your teeth will be when your braces come off.

Here are five tips you must know about how to clean braces:

1. Use a Flouride Rinse

Flouride is critical for healthy teeth whether you have braces or not, but you should try to do fluoride treatments when you have your braces on.

Your dentist will give you a fluoride rinse during your treatments, but you can also get one at the drugstore. Some mouthwashes have fluoride and are easy to find, you need to make sure you read the labels.

2. Brush With The Right Tools

The right toothbrush can make a huge difference when you’re brushing your teeth with braces. Find a toothbrush with soft bristles and a compact head.

When you have braces you’ll need to brush your teeth more often, and you should try to brush after every meal. Brushing after you eat will prevent food rotting in your braces and keep your smile clear of your last meal.

3. Get Your Teeth Cleaned Regularly

When you have braces, you might be tempted to skip your bi-yearly checkup with your dentist. But this visit is even more critical when you have braces because it’s a chance to have your braces deeply cleaned and check-in on the health of your teeth underneath your braces.

So don’t skip these appointments and set a reminder to get into your dentist’s office at least twice per year.

4. Try Water Picking

A water picking machine creates a tight flow of water that will flush debris out of your teeth and braces. You’ve probably seen them used in dental offices, but they’re also available at a lot of drugstores.

These tools should be used in addition to brushing to flossing and will help ensure that there’s not extra food hiding in your braces.

5. Don’t Forget to Floss

Even if you invest in a water picking machine, you should still take the time to floss with your braces on. Flossing should be done daily and only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it.

Learn More About Good Oral Health

Now that you know how to keep your braces clean, you should still keep practicing your other good oral health habits while you have your braces on.

Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful tips or book an appointment with our team today.