When you have braces, it’s essential to keep them clean. Braces can trap food and bacteria, which increases the risk of plaque formation, so you’ll need to maintain an effective oral hygiene regime, and keep your teeth and gums in check. If you’ve recently had braces fitted, here are 3 tips to help you keep your braces clean.

1. Carry a brush around with you: it’s really useful to carry a toothbrush around with you when you have braces, so that you can brush your teeth and clean your braces after meals. Braces tend to trap food, and if it’s left, this increases the risk of plaque forming.
2. Cover every tooth: when you wear a brace, it can be difficult to keep your teeth clean, so try and make sure you cover every individual tooth. Rather than using sweeping movements across the teeth, clean the teeth one by one. Use your brush to gently clean each surface, and brush away any debris from the brackets and wires.
3. Use specially designed tools: it is possible to clean your teeth with a normal toothbrush, but you may find it easier and more effective to use specially designed brushes for orthodontic patients. You can get smaller brushes and easy-to-use tools, which target areas that can be hard to reach with a traditional brush.

When you have braces fitted, your dentist will talk to you about keeping them clean, and they will give you some cleaning tips. If you need any more advice, or you have questions about keeping your braces free from food or avoiding staining, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. It’s normal to find brushing a little odd for the first couple of days, but it will soon become second nature.