Dental hygiene during orthodontic treatment
One of the secrets to getting a perfect outcome from your orthodontic treatment isn’t just the appliances — it’s how well you take care of your teeth every day.
The good news: with the right routine and the right tools, keeping impeccable hygiene isn’t hard. It just takes a little extra dedication.
The golden rule: brush after every meal
Whether you have braces or not, food debris left between your teeth creates plaque. With braces, those spaces multiply and become harder to reach. That’s why brushing after every meal is non-negotiable.
You don’t have to do it perfectly every single time, but you do have to do it.
Tools that actually help
A regular toothbrush doesn’t always reach every corner. These make the difference:
- V-shaped orthodontic brush: its shape covers both the bracket and the tooth surface at the same time.
- Interdental brushes: small and thin, perfect for cleaning between the wire and the tooth, or between brackets.
- Superfloss: has a stiff tip that lets you thread it under the archwire to floss between teeth.
- Oral irrigator (Water Pik): the pressurized water jet removes debris no brush can reach. It doesn’t replace brushing, but it’s a great addition.
Step-by-step brushing with braces
- Start with a vigorous water rinse to loosen the bigger bits.
- Place the brush between the gum and tooth at a 45° angle, using small circular motions to clean the gum line — where plaque builds up most.
- Move the brush to the area just below the bracket, same circular motion toward the edge of the tooth.
- Clean the chewing surfaces and the inner surfaces (toward the tongue).
- Use an interdental brush to clean under the archwire.
- Thread superfloss between each pair of teeth.
Brushing should take 3 to 4 minutes. The most important session of the day is before bed.
When you’re done, check that no food debris remains and that your brackets look clean.
Foods to be mindful of
Some foods make bracket care harder:
- Sticky foods (gum, chewy candy): they cling to brackets and are difficult to remove.
- Very hard foods (crusty bread, beef jerky, ice): can bend or pop off brackets.
- Heavily pigmented foods (turmeric, beets, coffee, red wine, dark sodas): can stain ceramic brackets and discolor elastics.
You don’t have to give everything up, but being aware helps protect both your teeth and your appliances.
If you use invisible aligners
With aligners, hygiene is much more straightforward. Since you take them out to eat, no food gets trapped against your teeth.
The key rule: before putting your aligners back in, brush your teeth and rinse well. If you eat something and put your aligners back in without brushing, you’re sealing bacteria against your teeth for hours.
Aligners should be worn at least 22 hours per day, so consistency matters. Keep a small hygiene kit with you: toothbrush, toothpaste, and the case for storing your aligners while you eat.
Professional cleanings during treatment
Beyond daily home care, we recommend at least one professional cleaning per year during treatment — more often if your hygienist suggests it. There’s no substitute for that deep clean, and your hygienist can give you personalized tips for your specific case.
Have questions about caring for your appliances? We review your hygiene at every appointment and give you the tips you need. Contact us anytime.