Braces and clear aligners straighten your teeth, but they also make it easier for plaque and food to hide. Good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is what keeps your new smile free of white spots, cavities and swollen gums on the day your braces come off. At Holmes & Palmer Orthodontics, our team shows every patient how to clean around their appliance at the start of treatment. This page puts that routine in one place for patients at our Charleston, Hurricane and Huntington, WV offices and our Ashland, KY office.
Why Oral Hygiene Matters More With Braces
Brackets, wires and bands add dozens of small ledges where plaque collects. Plaque that sits against the enamel around a bracket for weeks can leave chalky white marks, called decalcification, that stay visible after the brackets are removed. It can also turn into cavities and make the gums red, puffy and quick to bleed.
The good news is that all of this is preventable. Patients who brush and floss carefully finish treatment with the same healthy teeth they started with. A few extra minutes a day protects the result you are working toward.
How to Brush With Braces
Our braces FAQ gives the core rule: brush and floss after every meal while you are in braces. Here is how to do it well.
- Rinse first. Swish water around your mouth to loosen food caught in the brackets.
- Use a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. A soft-bristled manual brush or an electric brush both work. Hard bristles can wear the gums.
- Brush above and below the brackets. Angle the bristles down toward the gum line to clean the top of each bracket, then angle them up to clean underneath. Small circles work best.
- Clean the chewing surfaces and the inside of each tooth, the same way you did before braces.
- Use an interdental brush to reach under the wire and between brackets where a regular brush cannot get in.
- Check in the mirror. Clean brackets look shiny and the edges are easy to see. Fuzzy or dull-looking brackets need another pass.
Plan on about two minutes of brushing each time, plus the extra steps around the brackets. Brushing at lunch is easier with a travel toothbrush kit in a backpack or desk drawer. Let the brush dry in the open after using it rather than sealing it in a plastic bag.
How to Floss With Braces
Flossing is the step most braces patients skip, and it is the one that protects the gums between the teeth. Three tools make it easier:
- Floss threaders. A flexible loop pulls regular floss under the wire so you can clean between each pair of teeth.
- Orthodontic floss. Some floss comes with a stiff end built in, so no threader is needed.
- Water flossers. A steady stream of water flushes food and plaque from around brackets and under the wire. Many patients find this the fastest option, though it works best alongside string floss rather than replacing it entirely.
Floss at least once a day, and take your time. It gets faster after the first couple of weeks.
Oral Hygiene With Clear Aligners
Clear aligners come out for cleaning, which makes brushing and flossing simple. The catch is that aligners can trap anything left on the teeth against the enamel for hours. A few habits keep that from happening:
- Brush before putting aligners back in after eating or drinking anything other than plain water.
- Clean the aligners every day. Rinse them each time they come out and brush them gently with a soft brush and cool water. Hot water can warp the plastic.
- Drink only water with aligners in. Juice, soda, sports drinks and sweetened coffee pool inside the trays.
- Keep them in their case whenever they are out of your mouth.
For more on aligner care, see our clear aligners FAQ and about clear aligners.
Foods That Protect Your Teeth and Your Appliance
What you eat affects both your enamel and your brackets. Sticky and sugary foods feed the bacteria that cause decay, and hard or chewy foods can break brackets and wires. The braces FAQ lists the common foods to avoid:
- Chewy foods such as bagels and licorice
- Crunchy foods such as popcorn, chips and ice
- Sticky foods such as caramel and chewing gum
- Hard foods such as nuts and hard candy
- Foods you bite into such as corn on the cob, whole apples and raw carrots. Cut them into small pieces instead.
Sipping sugary drinks throughout the day is especially hard on teeth with braces. Save them for mealtimes and rinse with water afterward.
Skip Whitening Until Your Braces Come Off
Whitening toothpaste, strips and rinses can’t reach the enamel under each bracket. Using them during treatment can leave lighter and darker patches once the brackets come off. Wait until treatment is finished, then ask us about whitening options.
Keep Seeing Your Family Dentist
Orthodontic visits focus on moving your teeth. Your general dentist still handles cleanings, checkups and cavity care, so keep your regular dental appointments every six months throughout treatment. Your dentist and our team work together to keep your teeth healthy while they move.
Signs You Need to Step Up Your Routine
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, puffy gums that grow over the edges of the brackets
- White or chalky spots around the brackets
- Bad breath that does not go away after brushing
- Food you can see stuck in the brackets at the end of the day
If you notice any of these, bring it up at your next visit. We will look at your technique, suggest tools that fit your appliance and make sure your gums are on track. If a bracket or wire breaks while you are cleaning, see our orthodontic emergencies page.
Questions? Talk to Our Team
Dr. W. Shane Holmes, Dr. Jack Palmer and Dr. Michael Signorelli and our team are happy to help with any question about caring for your braces or aligners. Call our Charleston office at (304) 343-3672, our Hurricane office at (304) 201-3672, our Huntington office at (304) 343-3672 or our Ashland office at (606) 388-2561. Thinking about treatment? Book a complimentary consultation to learn about types of braces and clear aligners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I brush with braces?
After every meal and before bed. Food gets caught in brackets easily, and brushing soon after eating keeps it from sitting against your teeth.
Is a water flosser enough on its own?
A water flosser is a great tool for braces, but it works best together with string floss, which scrapes plaque off the sides of the teeth.
Can I use mouthwash with braces?
Yes. A fluoride rinse adds extra protection for the enamel around brackets. Avoid whitening rinses until your braces are off.
How do I clean clear aligners?
Rinse them every time they come out and brush them gently with a soft brush and cool water once a day. Avoid hot water, which can warp them.