How to Brush Your Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment 🦷
When orthodontic treatment begins, braces or other orthodontic appliances are attached to your teeth. Some appliances can be removed, but others must remain in place until the treatment is complete.
If you have a fixed appliance, you need to be extra careful when brushing, as the risk of cavities increases. This guide will explain how to properly brush your teeth while wearing a fixed orthodontic appliance.
When to Brush
Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal. However, if you are unable to do so at work or school, make sure to take your time brushing thoroughly at night. If brushing isn’t possible, at least rinse your mouth with water.
How to Brush with Braces
We will explain how to clean different parts of your teeth while wearing braces:
Brushing above and below the orthodontic brackets and wires
Cleaning the space between the wire and your teeth
Brushing hard-to-reach molars
Cleaning the gumline
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Brushing Above and Below the Brackets and Wires
First, visualize dividing your teeth into upper and lower sections around the wire.
(For example, imagine the green area as the upper part and the yellow area as the lower part.)
Hold your toothbrush firmly against your teeth and clean each tooth carefully with small movements.
💡 Tip: You don’t need to apply too much pressure to remove plaque! Brushing too hard can damage your gums, so use gentle strokes.
⚠️ Don’t forget to clean the inner surfaces of your teeth and the chewing surfaces as you normally would!
Cleaning the Space Between the Wire and Your Teeth
Since regular toothbrushes may not reach under the wire, use an interdental brush or a single-tufted brush (one-tuft brush) for effective cleaning.
Using a Single-Tufted Brush
Insert the brush under the wire and gently move it along the tooth surface.
✅ You can insert the brush from either above or below the wire—whichever works best for you.
✅ The key is to make sure the brush tip is in contact with the tooth surface.
Using an Interdental Brush
Insert the tip of the interdental brush under the wire and move it side to side.
⚠️ Be careful not to poke your gums!
Brushing Your Molars
During orthodontic treatment, plaque tends to accumulate on your back teeth (molars). We recommend using a single-tufted brush to clean them thoroughly.
💡 Tip: If you open your mouth too wide, your cheeks may tighten, making it harder to reach your molars. Try keeping your mouth slightly open while brushing.
Cleaning the Gumline
Even if you don’t have braces, plaque easily accumulates along the gumline (indicated by the blue line).
Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and move it gently in small strokes (about 5mm wide).
⚠️ Caution: Brushing too hard or for too long can lead to gum recession, so be gentle!
Summary
That’s all for our guide on brushing your teeth during orthodontic treatment!
It may seem challenging at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly.
At our clinic, we provide a toothbrush and a single-tufted brush as a gift to patients who receive braces—so let’s work together to keep your teeth clean and healthy!
Yosuke Uji, Ph.D. in Dental Science (Orthodontics)
E.T., Dental Hygienist