Getting braces is an investment in your future smile, but it also comes with new responsibilities for your dental health. Proper brushing with braces isn’t just about fresh breath—it’s essential for preventing serious problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and permanent white stains on your teeth.
While brushing with braces is more challenging than normal brushing, you absolutely can maintain excellent oral health during your orthodontic treatment. In fact, research shows that using specialized brushing techniques can reduce white spot lesions (those permanent marks that can remain after braces) by up to 60%.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything from selecting the right tools to mastering proper techniques, establishing daily routines, and troubleshooting common problems. With just a few adjustments to your habits, you’ll be able to keep your teeth healthy and ensure your smile looks amazing when those braces finally come off.
Essential Tools for Brushing Teeth With Braces
Having the right equipment makes all the difference when you’re cleaning around braces. Think of it like having the proper tools for any job—it simply makes everything easier and more effective.
Best Manual Toothbrushes for Braces
When selecting a manual toothbrush for your braces, three features matter most: soft bristles, a smaller head, and a contoured design. Soft bristles are non-negotiable since firmer bristles can damage your brackets and irritate your gums, which are already under pressure from your orthodontic treatment.
Look for toothbrushes specifically labeled for orthodontic care, such as the Oral-B Ortho toothbrush or the GUM Ortho toothbrush. These have bristles arranged in a V-shape that better accommodate brackets and wires. Some even feature bristles of different heights to reach both your brackets and the exposed tooth surface simultaneously.
Are Electric Toothbrushes Better for Braces?
Electric toothbrushes offer significant advantages for braces wearers. The rapid vibrating or oscillating motion does much of the mechanical work for you, which is particularly helpful when navigating around brackets and wires requires extra dexterity.
Sonic technology, which creates fluid dynamics that clean beyond where the bristles actually touch, can be especially beneficial. Studies show electric toothbrushes can remove up to 21% more plaque than manual brushes for people with braces.
If you choose an electric toothbrush, use it on a moderate setting—not the highest power—to avoid damaging your orthodontic work. Hold the brush at the same 45-degree angle you would a manual brush, but let the brush do the work without applying additional pressure. Move the brush head slowly from tooth to tooth, pausing briefly at each bracket.
Must-Have Interdental Cleaning Tools
Your regular toothbrush, whether manual or electric, simply can’t reach all the spaces around your braces. That’s where interdental tools become essential:
- Interdental brushes: These tiny cone-shaped brushes can slip between brackets and under wires where regular brushes can’t reach. They look like miniature bottle brushes and come in various sizes.
- Proxy brushes: Similar to interdental brushes but with an angled design that makes reaching back teeth easier.
- Orthodontic picks: These plastic picks have a pointed end for removing larger food particles and sometimes feature a brush on the opposite end.
Use these tools after your regular brushing to remove any remaining food particles and plaque from hard-to-reach areas. They’re particularly important for cleaning the spaces between your teeth and around the edges of each bracket.
Step-by-Step Brushing Technique for Braces
Now that you have the right tools, let’s focus on proper technique. Brushing with braces isn’t just about brushing harder or longer—it’s about using the right approach to clean all the new hiding spots where plaque and food can accumulate.
Mastering the Correct Brushing Angle
The key to effective brushing with braces is using the correct angle. The orthodontist-recommended CHARTERS method involves placing your toothbrush bristles at a 45-degree angle toward your gumline, then using gentle circular-vibratory motions.
For the tops of your brackets, angle your brush downward at 45 degrees. For the bottoms of brackets, angle upward at 45 degrees. Use gentle pressure—pushing too hard can damage your brackets or wires and irritate your gums. Remember that your goal is to clean, not to scrub.
Think of each tooth as having three surfaces that need cleaning: above the bracket, on the bracket itself, and below the bracket. By changing your brush angle, you’ll effectively clean all these areas.
The Three-Zone Brushing Method
To ensure complete cleaning, divide your mouth into three zones and clean each thoroughly:
- Above the brackets: Angle your brush down at 45 degrees to clean between the top of each bracket and your gumline. Spend about 30 seconds in this zone.
- On the brackets: Position your brush straight onto your brackets and use gentle circular motions to clean the brackets themselves and the surrounding tooth surface. This requires about 30 seconds as well.
- Below the brackets: Angle your brush up at 45 degrees to clean between the bottom of each bracket and your biting surfaces. Again, aim for 30 seconds in this zone.
Repeat this process for both your upper and lower teeth, front and back, totaling about 2-3 minutes of thorough brushing.
How to Clean Individual Bracket Areas
Cleaning around individual brackets requires special attention:
- Start by rinsing your mouth with water to loosen food particles.
- Use your toothbrush at the angles described above, but focus on one tooth at a time, spending about 10 seconds per tooth.
- For stubborn food particles trapped around brackets, use an interdental brush or orthodontic pick to gently dislodge them.
- To clean under the main archwire, gently insert an interdental brush from above, then from below, using a slight twisting motion to remove plaque.
- Pay extra attention to the areas where the wire enters the brackets, as these spots frequently trap food and plaque.
Remember that gentleness is crucial—forcing tools between wires and brackets can damage your orthodontic work and extend your treatment time.
Creating an Effective Braces Brushing Routine
Consistency is just as important as technique when it comes to oral care with braces. Establishing a routine that works with your lifestyle will help ensure your teeth remain healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment.
How Often to Brush With Braces
Ideally, you should brush after every meal and snack when you have braces. Food particles that might normally be washed away by saliva can become trapped in brackets, leading to plaque buildup and potential decay.
The recommended “3-3-3” method suggests:
– Brushing 3 times per day (minimum)
– Within 3 minutes after meals
– For at least 3 minutes each time
While some orthodontists recommend five daily brushings for optimal results, the reality is that brushing thoroughly after each meal and before bed is a more realistic and sustainable approach for most people. If perfect isn’t possible, good and consistent is better than sporadic perfection.
Morning and Night Brushing Routine
Morning routine:
1. Rinse with water to loosen overnight plaque
2. Brush using the three-zone method for 2-3 minutes
3. Clean between teeth and around brackets with interdental tools
4. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash to strengthen enamel
Night routine (most important):
1. Rinse thoroughly to remove loose food particles
2. Brush using the three-zone method, taking extra time (3+ minutes)
3. Use interdental brushes around each bracket
4. Floss using a floss threader or water flosser
5. Finish with fluoride mouthwash
Your nighttime routine should be more thorough since plaque that remains overnight has more time to damage your teeth.
Post-Meal Quick Cleaning Tips
When you’re at school, work, or otherwise away from home, a complete brushing routine isn’t always possible. Here are some practical alternatives:
- Keep a travel toothbrush and small toothpaste in your bag, purse, or locker
- If you can’t brush, at minimum rinse vigorously with water
- Use orthodontic-friendly disposable brushes (like Wisps) that don’t require water
- Carry interdental brushes for quick removal of visible food particles
- Consider a portable water flosser that runs on batteries
- Avoid sugary or acidic drinks when you can’t brush afterward
Even a 30-second brush is better than nothing. Focus on the brackets and areas where food tends to get caught if you’re short on time.
Beyond Brushing: Complete Oral Care With Braces
Brushing alone isn’t sufficient for complete oral care with braces. A comprehensive approach includes several other important practices that work together to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
How to Floss With Braces
Flossing with braces is challenging but essential. Traditional flossing methods won’t work because the wire blocks your floss, so you’ll need to use special techniques:
- Using floss threaders: These flexible plastic tools help you thread regular floss under your archwire. Thread about 18 inches of floss through the threader, then pass the threader under the wire between two teeth. Once the floss is under the wire, floss normally between those teeth.
- Using super floss: This specialized floss has a stiff end that easily threads under wires, followed by a spongy section that cleans around brackets and a regular section for between teeth.
- Using orthodontic floss: This has a rigid end that eliminates the need for a separate threader.
Aim to floss at least once daily, preferably before your nighttime brushing. Be gentle when flossing near the gumline to avoid irritation.
Water Flossers and Oral Irrigators for Braces
Water flossers like Waterpik are game-changers for braces wearers. These devices shoot a pulsating stream of water that removes food particles and plaque from around brackets and between teeth.
For braces, start with a lower pressure setting (around 4-5) and gradually increase as you become comfortable. Hold the tip at a 90-degree angle to your gumline, and trace along your gums, pausing briefly between each tooth.
Portable water flossers are excellent options for travel or school/work use. They’re typically battery-operated and have smaller reservoirs but still provide effective cleaning on the go.
Selecting the Right Mouthwash With Braces
Not all mouthwashes are created equal when it comes to braces care:
- Look for: Fluoride-containing mouthwashes to strengthen enamel and antimicrobial formulas to fight bacteria in hard-to-reach places
- Consider: Alcohol-free options if you experience sensitivity
- Avoid: Whitening mouthwashes, as they can cause uneven coloration (they only whiten exposed tooth surfaces, not the areas under brackets)
Use mouthwash after brushing and flossing to rinse away loosened particles and provide a final layer of protection. Swish for a full 60 seconds for maximum benefit.
Preventing Common Problems and Troubleshooting
Even with diligent care, braces wearers may encounter some challenges. Knowing how to address these issues can save you discomfort and potential complications.
How to Prevent White Spots on Teeth
White spot lesions affect nearly 50% of patients with braces and represent permanent damage to your enamel. They form when acids from plaque attack the tooth surface around brackets. To prevent them:
- Be meticulous about cleaning the margins around each bracket
- Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash daily
- Ask your dentist about supplemental fluoride treatments or prescriptions
- Consider products with nano-hydroxyapatite, which helps remineralize enamel
- Limit sugary foods and acidic drinks, which accelerate demineralization
Take photos of your teeth monthly to check for early signs of white spots, which appear as chalky white areas around brackets. If you notice them, consult your orthodontist immediately.
Managing Sensitive Gums While Brushing
Gum sensitivity is common with braces, especially after adjustments. To manage discomfort while maintaining good hygiene:
- Use extra-soft bristled toothbrushes
- Try a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth (but avoid whitening formulas)
- Rinse with warm salt water solution to reduce inflammation
- Consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever before brushing if sensitivity is severe
- Apply orthodontic wax to brackets that are irritating your gums
- Brush extra gently but still thoroughly in sensitive areas
If gum bleeding persists for more than two weeks or if you notice severe inflammation, consult your orthodontist, as this might indicate poor cleaning technique or a more serious issue.
Signs Your Brushing Technique Needs Improvement
How do you know if you’re brushing effectively? Watch for these warning signs that indicate you need to improve your technique:
- Swollen, red gums: Healthy gums should be pink and firm, not puffy or bleeding
- Visible plaque: White, sticky film on teeth, especially around brackets
- Persistent bad breath: Despite regular brushing
- Food consistently trapped in the same spots: Indicates areas you’re missing
- Discoloration around brackets: Early sign of potential white spots forming
If you notice any of these signs, revisit your brushing technique, increase your brushing time, and consider adding interdental tools you might not be using.
Traveling With Braces: Portable Cleaning Solutions
Don’t let travel disrupt your oral care routine. Create a travel orthodontic kit including:
- Travel-sized toothbrush (preferably with a cover)
- Small toothpaste tube (look for travel sizes under 3.4 oz/100ml for air travel)
- Collapsible cup for rinsing
- Interdental brushes or picks
- Orthodontic wax for emergency bracket issues
- Portable water flosser if space permits
- Disposable floss threaders
- Small mirror for checking your teeth after meals
- Mini mouthwash bottle or mouthwash tablets that dissolve in water
Keep this kit in an easily accessible place in your luggage, not packed away at the bottom, so you’re more likely to use it even when tired from traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brushing With Braces
How do I brush on the first day of getting braces when my teeth are sore?
The first day with braces can be uncomfortable. Use an extra-soft toothbrush and brush very gently, focusing more on thoroughness than pressure. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever 30 minutes before brushing can help. Remember that consistent gentle brushing will actually help reduce inflammation and discomfort over time.
Will brushing damage my brackets or wires?
Not if done properly. Use soft bristles, gentle pressure, and avoid aggressive scrubbing motions. Replace your toothbrush more frequently (every 2-3 months) as bristles wear out faster with braces. If a bracket or wire does become damaged, contact your orthodontist promptly.
How long should I brush with braces?
Aim for at least 2-3 minutes each time you brush, which is longer than the typical recommendation without braces. The extra time accounts for the additional surfaces created by brackets and wires that need cleaning.
Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I have braces?
Slight bleeding is common initially as your gums adjust to both braces and more thorough cleaning. However, persistent bleeding after 2 weeks indicates either poor brushing technique or gingivitis that needs attention. Continue gentle but thorough brushing, as avoiding areas that bleed will only make the problem worse.
Can I use whitening toothpaste with braces?
It’s best to avoid whitening products during orthodontic treatment. They only whiten the exposed tooth surfaces, potentially creating uneven coloration when brackets are removed. Focus on keeping teeth clean and healthy now, and consider whitening options after your braces come off.
What should I do if food gets stuck and won’t come out with brushing?
Use interdental brushes, water flossers, or orthodontic picks for stubborn food particles. For very persistent pieces, try swishing vigorously with water, then using a combination of floss threaders and interdental brushes. If you still can’t remove the particle, contact your orthodontist—don’t use sharp metal objects like pins or paperclips, which can damage your braces and teeth.
How do different types of braces (metal, ceramic, lingual) affect brushing technique?
The fundamental techniques remain similar for all types, but ceramic braces require extra care to prevent staining of the clear or tooth-colored materials. Lingual braces (behind teeth) present unique challenges—use a toothbrush with a smaller head and angled handle, and rely more heavily on water flossers to reach these difficult areas.
