Brushing and Flossing

When you have braces, it’s critical to brush after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If this is not possible, try to drink and rinse your teeth with water in order to remove as much food debris away as possible.

Brushing with Braces

Brush your teeth after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Electric toothbrushes are available and effective also.

Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions.

Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances. It is equally important to brush your gum tissue as well. Sometimes your gum tissue will bleed if inflamed. Continue to brush gently and the inflammation will be reduced over time.

brushing with braces

Flossing with Braces

Dr. Kuhn feels that proper daily brushing negates the need for flossing during the course of treatment. It is not a perfect solution, but flossing with braces can be difficult and frustrating.

The floss tends to get caught and entangled in the braces. We offer flossing aids called “floss threaders” and “soft picks” to our patients. Dr. Kuhn feels a thorough brushing is more important and more beneficial than a haphazard flossing attempt.

flossing with braces

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