It’s always important to maintain great oral hygiene, but it’s especially important with braces, as food and plaque have more places to hide.

You should brush and floss at least two times per day for at least two minutes each time. Make sure to cover all surfaces, including the front, back, side, and gum line. Use small circular motions to gently polish teeth. To brush the gum line, tilt brush at an angle toward the gums.

A fundamental oral hygiene routine for braces should include:

• Soft bristle brush
• Fluoride toothpaste
• Floss

Flossing can be tricky with braces, but here is a list of special tools that can help:

• Proxabrush ®: Shaped like a vertical brush, a Proxabrush can move food quickly and easily from between brackets.
• Floss Threader: Similar to the way you might thread a needle, a floss threader is a plastic “needle” that guides the floss underneath the wire.
• Superfloss: Superfloss has an extra-durable tip to make it easier for you to insert underneath the wire.
• Platypus and Harp Orthodontic Flosser: These are by far the fastest and easiest way to floss with braces. They are made of plastic and hold floss taut, so that you can easily move underneath wires. The platypus is completely straight, while the harp flosser is at a 90-degree angle, making it easier for molars and the back of the mouth.
• Water Pick: A water flosser is a device that provides a constant stream of water to move food and debris from your teeth and gum line.

Brushing and flossing enables you to get the best results from your orthodontic treatment, and keeps your teeth healthy and strong.