Helping your child maintain good oral hygiene is essential during their orthodontic treatment. Braces make it a little trickier to clean teeth, as food particles and plaque can easily get trapped around brackets and wires. However, with the right tools, techniques, and a good routine, your child’s teeth—and their braces—can stay clean and healthy throughout their treatment.
Let’s go over some practical tips for cleaning braces effectively, why this is so important, and how you can make oral hygiene an easy, manageable part of your child’s daily routine.
Why Proper Braces Care is So Important
Good oral hygiene is essential with braces, as food particles and plaque can easily get caught around the brackets and wires. Without proper cleaning, this buildup can lead to issues such as:
– Cavities: Plaque and food trapped around the brackets and between the teeth can increase the risk of cavities.
– Gum Inflammation: If plaque isn’t removed regularly, it can cause gums to swell and become tender, leading to gingivitis.
– White Spots on Teeth: Plaque buildup can cause decalcification, which appears as white spots on the teeth. These spots can be visible after braces are removed, affecting the final look of your child’s smile.
By following a consistent cleaning routine, you’re helping to ensure that when the braces come off, your child’s teeth will be not only straight but also healthy and beautiful.
The Essential Tools for Cleaning Braces
To keep braces clean, it’s helpful to have a few specialized tools. Here are some items that can make brushing and flossing easier and more effective:
- Soft-Bristled Toothbrush: A toothbrush with soft bristles is gentle on gums and effective at cleaning around brackets. Consider using an orthodontic toothbrush, which is specially designed to get around braces.
- Electric Toothbrush: Many children find electric toothbrushes easier to use. The rotating head can help remove plaque more effectively than manual brushing, especially around the brackets and wires.
- Interdental Brushes: These small, cone-shaped brushes are great for cleaning around the brackets and between the wires. They’re also useful for reaching spots that a regular toothbrush might miss.
- Floss Threaders or Orthodontic Floss: Flossing with braces can be challenging, but floss threaders make it easier to guide floss under the archwire. Orthodontic floss, which has a stiff end, can also help children floss more independently.
- Water Flosser: A water flosser uses a gentle stream of water to remove food particles and plaque from between teeth and around braces. Many children find it fun and easy to use, and it’s a great addition to regular flossing.
- Orthodontic Wax: While not a cleaning tool, orthodontic wax helps protect the mouth from irritation caused by brackets and wires, making it easier for kids to stick to their cleaning routine.
- Mouthwash: An antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce plaque buildup and freshen breath. Choose a fluoride mouthwash to help protect against cavities.
Daily Brushing Routine for Kids with Braces
Teaching your child how to brush properly with braces can make a big difference in their overall oral health. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure they’re getting the best clean possible:
- Rinse with Water: Before brushing, have your child rinse their mouth with water to loosen food particles around the braces.
- Start with the Top of the Brackets: Using a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush, have your child angle the brush at a 45-degree angle above the brackets, brushing along the gumline and above each bracket.
- Brush the Bottom of the Brackets: Next, angle the toothbrush below the brackets and wires, brushing along the teeth and underneath each bracket.
- Brush the Front of the Brackets: Brush directly on top of the brackets, ensuring that the bristles reach every part of the brackets and wires.
- Brush Each Tooth Surface: After brushing around the braces, make sure to clean the chewing surfaces and the back of each tooth. This helps remove plaque that may be missed by brushing only around the brackets.
- Don’t Forget the Tongue: Brushing the tongue helps remove bacteria and keeps breath fresh. This is an easy final step that completes the routine.
Encourage your child to spend at least two minutes brushing, dividing time between each quadrant of the mouth. This way, they’ll get a thorough clean on every surface.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing can be challenging with braces, but it’s an important step for removing plaque and food particles from between teeth. Here’s how to make flossing easier for kids with braces:
- Using a Floss Threader: Insert regular floss through a floss threader, guiding it under the archwire and between each set of teeth. Move the floss gently up and down, taking care to reach below the gumline.
- Orthodontic Floss: Orthodontic floss, which has a stiff end, makes it easier for kids to guide floss under the archwire independently. The process is similar to using a floss threader but can be faster for older children.
- Water Flosser: If your child struggles with traditional flossing, a water flosser is a great alternative. It uses a steady stream of water to flush out plaque and food particles between teeth and around brackets. While not a replacement for traditional flossing, it’s an excellent addition to the routine and can make flossing more enjoyable.
Encourage your child to floss daily, especially in the evening, to remove any buildup that brushing may have missed.
Using a Mouthwash for Extra Protection
A fluoride mouthwash can help protect against cavities and strengthen tooth enamel. Rinsing with mouthwash also freshens breath and helps reduce bacteria, especially in hard-to-reach areas around the braces. Have your child rinse with mouthwash for about 30 seconds after brushing and flossing to complete their routine.
Additional Tips for Keeping Braces Clean
- Encourage a Braces-Friendly Diet: Certain foods are more likely to get stuck in braces or cause damage. Avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods that can break brackets or wires. Soft fruits, cooked vegetables, pasta, and yogurt are great braces-friendly options that won’t interfere with cleaning.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away food particles and bacteria, keeping the mouth cleaner between brushing sessions.
- Bring a Braces Care Kit for On-the-Go: Pack a small kit with a travel toothbrush, interdental brush, and floss picks to help your child clean their braces while away from home. This is especially useful for meals at school or during sports activities.
- Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings: Professional cleanings are essential for maintaining oral health with braces. We recommend scheduling regular dental cleanings in addition to orthodontic appointments to ensure that teeth and gums stay healthy throughout treatment.
Common Questions About Cleaning Braces
- How often should my child brush with braces?
– Brushing after every meal is ideal, as it removes food particles that can get stuck in brackets and wires. At the very least, your child should brush thoroughly in the morning and before bed.
- What if food gets stuck in the braces?
– An interdental brush or a water flosser is often the best tool for dislodging food stuck in braces. If you’re still having trouble, a gentle rinse with water or mouthwash can also help.
- Is an electric toothbrush better for braces?
– An electric toothbrush can be more effective than a manual one, especially for younger children. The rotating or vibrating bristles help dislodge plaque and food particles more effectively, making it easier to clean around brackets and wires.
- Can my child still use whitening toothpaste with braces?
– It’s generally best to avoid whitening toothpaste while wearing braces, as it can lead to uneven coloring when the braces are removed. A fluoride toothpaste is a better choice to protect against cavities and strengthen enamel.
Helping Your Child Build a Braces-Friendly Routine
Good oral hygiene with braces takes a little extra time and effort, but with a solid routine, your child can keep their teeth clean, healthy, and ready for a beautiful reveal once the braces come off. By incorporating these tools and techniques into their daily routine, you’re helping your child develop habits that will benefit their smile for a lifetime.
At Simple Orthodontics, we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions about braces care, need tips for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy, or want to discuss additional tools to make cleaning easier, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we’ll help your child keep their braces clean, comfortable, and ready to reveal a stunning smile!
