Wearing braces: tips, rules and features of cleaning the oral cavity

After installing braces, dental care becomes more complex and time-consuming. They have to be cleaned more often, using additional hygiene products: floss, brushes and irrigators, otherwise caries or other dental diseases may develop. In this article we will tell you how to care for your teeth with braces.

Braces are complex orthodontic structures consisting of many small parts. Food debris accumulates in and under them, which causes the spread of bacteria in the oral cavity. If you do not take care of your teeth and eat incorrectly, caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease and other pathologies can develop.

Braces are used primarily to change the bite and eliminate irregularities in the dentition. Usually a person consents to such treatment consciously, understanding what difficulties will need to be overcome while wearing an orthodontic system. He will have to change many habits for orthodontic treatment to be successful. Otherwise, it will not bring any results or even cause harm. We'll tell you what rules related to oral hygiene every person with braces should know.

What care products are there for braces?

With proper hygiene, braces and teeth are cleaned in several stages, each of which uses different care products. A patient who has an orthodontic structure installed will have to purchase:

a special toothbrush;
brush for cleaning bracket systems;
floss (dental floss);
irrigator.

Each of these means performs its own function. Let's consider their features.

Caring for braces with a toothbrush

An orthodontic brush differs from a regular brush in the shape of its bristles. It has a V-shape with a depression in the center, which ensures cleaning of the enamel and orthodontic structure. The hygienic procedure is carried out in the same way as standard cleaning. First, you need to apply a little toothpaste (about the size of a pea) to the brush, and then clean each quadrant of the upper and lower jaw. Cleaning is carried out by sweeping movements from the gums to the chewing surface of the teeth. This takes approximately three minutes.

CURAPROX Ortho brushes are available for patients with braces. They are equipped with soft bristles that allow for thorough and gentle cleaning of teeth and structures.

How to properly care for braces with a brush

The main danger to enamel is the contamination that accumulates under the arch of the orthodontic structure, that is, between the braces and the teeth. You need to remove plaque and bacteria in this area using brushes: Curaprox CPS 10, Biorepair Scovolini Interdentali Cilindrici, etc.

The procedure for cleaning the braces system using this product should be carried out daily after standard brushing of the teeth.

Cleaning your braces with dental floss

Flosses are recommended for use by all people after every meal, especially fibrous ones, such as meat, oranges, etc. This avoids the development of interdental caries. Regular dental floss is not suitable for caring for teeth after braces are installed. For such patients, special flosses with a hard end are produced (Mirafloss implant chx). They do not fray or tear when in contact with metal structural elements.

Rinse aids

Rinses are also suitable for daily dental care, regardless of whether you have braces or not, but after they are installed, it is advisable to keep a small bottle of disinfectant with you at all times. Rinsing is done after every meal. You can purchase a special Biorepair Mouthwash kit, which is convenient to take with you on the road. This product reduces gum sensitivity, strengthens enamel and destroys bacteria.

Pastas for every day

These are pastes that clean well, strengthen and have a moderate antibacterial effect. They do not contain chlorhexidine or similar components and can be used every day.

Toothpaste ROCS PRO Brackets & Ortho

PresiDENT PROFI ORTHO BRACES toothpaste for braces

Philips Sonicare BreathRX toothpaste

Biorepair PLUS Total Protection toothpaste

Irrigators for cleaning the oral cavity with braces

An irrigator is a device that, by supplying water under pressure, allows you to clean the oral cavity of bacteria and food debris. These devices do a good job of cleaning hard-to-reach areas - interdental spaces. Irrigators can be used as an additional tool, and not as an alternative to a regular brush, brush and threads.

Dentists advise cleaning teeth and braces with an irrigator 2-3 times a week. The advantage of the device is that it allows you to reduce the time of the hygiene procedure. The irrigator can be used in conjunction with rinses.

There are two types of irrigators:

Stationary: equipped with a large reservoir for liquid and equipped with several attachments, including those for caring for braces. Such devices are suitable for home use. Popular models: Little Doctor International Ltd Aquajet LD-A7, Donfeel Donfeel OR-820D Compact, Revyline RL 100.
Portable: you can take it with you on trips, to work, etc. Such irrigators have less power and have a small reservoir for liquid, but they are compact: Donfeel Donfeel OR-888, Panasonic EW-1411, Revyline RL 200XL.

When buying an irrigator for the whole family, choose your own nozzle for each one.

What toothpastes should not be used while wearing braces?

Wearing corrective orthodontic appliances may cause slight darkening of the enamel. In some cases, trying to correct this nuance, people tend to choose toothpastes with an active whitening effect. But this is absolutely impossible to do. Whitening agents only affect teeth in exposed areas of enamel. In places where the plates and arches of braces are adjacent to the teeth, lightening will not occur. After removing the corrective structures, the difference in shade may be quite noticeable. Therefore, when using braces, you should avoid toothpastes and gels with active whitening effects.

Regular cleaning toothpastes that meet general recommendations for braces can be used without restrictions.

General hygiene rules after installing braces

We list the general rules that every patient must follow after installing braces:

Brush your teeth 2-3 times a day, and after each meal, clean your braces with a brush and rinse your mouth.
As an additional hygiene product, use an oral irrigator.
Stop smoking, which causes plaque and tartar to form on your teeth more quickly.
Visit your dentist regularly. The frequency of visits is determined by the doctor based on the condition of the teeth.

Also, when wearing braces, you will have to reconsider your nutrition system:

It is worth giving up sticky and viscous foods: toffees, nougat, chewing gum. Such products stick to the metal structure, get stuck between the teeth and cause active proliferation of cariogenic bacteria.
Solid foods should only be eaten in crushed form. Biting off tough meat, a piece of apple, etc., can damage the braces or move them to the side, which will lead to improper correction of the jaw.
It is necessary to observe the temperature regime of the products: they should not be too cold or too hot.
It is recommended to reduce the consumption of coffee and tea, which contribute to the formation of plaque. It is also better to completely abstain from alcohol, which leads to dryness of the oral mucosa, which can cause injury from braces.

If you follow these rules and carefully care for your braces, there will be no problems with your teeth during orthodontic treatment. All listed hygiene products can be purchased in our online store.

Antibacterial pastes

If for some reason toothpaste for every day is not enough (for example, due to inflammation of the mucous membrane or too rapid plaque formation), you should choose a toothpaste with a strong antibacterial effect. Pastes with chlorhexidine work best, but they can only be used as a course.

Elgidium Anti-plaque toothpaste with chlorhexidine

Toothpaste CURAPROX PerioPlus SUPPORT chx 0.09%

Dentaid Perio-Aid tooth gel paste with chlorhexidine 0.12%

Toothpaste Montcarotte RAPID15 Red grapefruit

You can choose a toothpaste to suit any budget - in our selection there are options from 300 to 1400 rubles. Remember that brushing technique is very important to achieve the best results - consult your orthodontist about this. In addition, the duration of brushing teeth with braces increases to 5 minutes.

Is periodic replacement required?

Unfortunately, our body tends to get used to the constantly used composition. As a result, the degree of exposure to paste components is significantly reduced. Therefore, the orthodontic hygiene product should be changed periodically.

For example, you can use a calcium-rich formula for several months to strengthen your enamel. Then replace the product with a fluoride toothpaste to prevent tooth decay. Next, you can pay attention to anti-inflammatory compounds.

Before purchasing a paste, it is advisable to consult with a specialist who will assess the condition of the oral cavity and recommend which composition is best to start with.

Active components

All toothpastes are divided into two main types: therapeutic and preventive. They differ in the presence of active substances or components. Let's consider which pastes are suitable for use in the presence of installed braces.

with fluoride: effective protection of teeth from caries, strengthening and saturation of enamel,
with calcium: restores and strengthens tooth enamel, fights caries,
with low content of abrasive particles and potassium: reduces tooth sensitivity,
with herbal ingredients: reduce inflammation and bleeding of gums,
with a large number of abrasive particles: whitening pastes that allow you to remove pigmented plaque from the enamel.

There are orthodontic pastes that are specially designed to protect teeth while wearing braces. They simultaneously cope with many problems: reduce the sensitivity of enamel, strengthen it, stimulate the restoration and healing of soft tissues, and freshen breath.

Patient reviews

“I had to change my toothpaste constantly - I got braces while I was breastfeeding my baby, so my teeth just started to crumble. Constantly a large amount of vitamins, strengthening pastes, against gum inflammation. I have a whole arsenal at home! But it’s okay, I dealt with the problem and didn’t lose my teeth))) My gums also gradually returned to normal. Of course, I had to wait until I finished feeding, but I really couldn’t wait to get the results! I advise everyone not to ignore cleaning!!! It will keep your teeth healthy and white.”

Irene, from correspondence from forums

“I tried several pastes, but in the end I settled on one special one. I really liked the orthodontic one - it copes really well with plaque and has a comprehensive effect on both teeth and gums. I wore braces for 2.5 years and used a specialized paste for about two years; after removing the braces, there was no pigmentation, which made me very happy.”

Maria, 29 years old, Syktyvkar

Systems and whitening preparations

Experts strongly recommend excluding lightening pastes during treatment.

This is explained by the fact that after removing the structure, the areas of enamel to which its elements were attached will stand out significantly.

Such a defect cannot always be corrected even in the dental chair.

Causes of dental crowding and ways to eliminate pathology.

In this publication we will talk about the procedure for performing orthognathic surgery.

At this address https://orto-info.ru/ortodonticheskoe-lechenie/osnovnoy-period/kak-snimayut-breketyi.html we offer to learn how braces are removed.

Special Additives

These types of enzymes help patients who cannot clean their teeth for the right time and quality. Such patients include those wearing braces and small children. The content of special additives in the cleaning composition helps to soften, foam, and then remove plaque. They clean teeth even in hard-to-reach places.

Whitening elements are represented by peroxides that enter into a slight chemical reaction with the surface of the teeth. The treated area becomes lighter. For patients wearing braces, toothpaste with whitening compounds is not recommended. After all, parts of the teeth covered with braces will not be whitened, and after removing the leveling systems, the smile will look very unattractive.

The patient may or may not like the toothpaste. Flavors and flavorings are quite important for humans. They use artificial and natural (menthol, carvacrol) components.

Rules of application

To effectively combat bacterial plaque, a special paste composition alone is not enough. You still need to master the cleaning technique.

There are no special rules for using orthodontic paste. The product, as when cleaning enamel with the usual composition, is squeezed onto the brush in an identical amount. The technique of brush movements and the duration of the procedure play a big role.

It is necessary to pay attention to each tooth to which the structure is adjacent, and especially to the area of contact between braces and enamel. For this purpose, modern dentistry suggests using brushes, monotuft brushes, and irrigators.

The duration of the procedure should not be less than 5 minutes, otherwise the beneficial components of the composition will not have time to fully manifest themselves.

Differences from conventional means

Toothpaste for braces has all the important properties that are necessary when caring for the oral cavity during bite correction:

significant degree of cleansing effect;
anti-caries effect;
antibacterial properties.

Therefore, using a special composition, you can resist many oral diseases.

Requirements

When purchasing orthodontic paste, you don’t have to follow the lead of cunning marketers who attract customers with bright advertising and beautiful packaging. First of all, you should be interested in the content of the funds.

Experts recommend using cleansers that contain fluoride and calcium. These elements are necessary when correcting defects with braces, as they help strengthen the enamel and fight bacteria.

Please note! At the beginning of orthodontic treatment, the fluoride and calcium content should be minimal so that the strength of contact between the system and the enamel is not impaired.

In addition, the presence of other elements is required, which will be discussed in more detail below.

Compound

The packaging of the product you choose must indicate the content of fluoride, abrasives, enzymes and anti-inflammatory components.

Fluorine

The duration of orthodontic treatment ranges on average from 2-3 years. Accordingly, increased demands are placed on dental protection at this time.

Fluoride strengthens the structure of hard tissues of the oral cavity and has an increased degree of protection against the development of carious formations.

As a rule, the chemical element is present in the composition in the form of monofluorophosphate, amino fluoride, tin fluoride, sodium, aluminum. It is noteworthy that the actions of the element included in the product are activated during contact with saliva.

The separated fluoride ions produce a bactericidal effect, eliminating pathogenic microflora in their path during the hygiene procedure.

Note! If your region has high levels of fluoride in drinking water, you should use a composition with a minimum content of this element or a product in which it is completely absent.

Correcting defects with orthodontic structures and how to kiss with braces on your teeth.

Let's discuss here whether it is possible to put braces on crowns.

Follow the link https://orto-info.ru/sistemyi-vyiravnivaniya-zubov/breketyi/esteticheskie-korrektsiya-plyus-ukrashenie.html if you are interested in the types of aesthetic braces.

Abrasives

These components are particles of chemical elements that help increase the degree of impact of compounds on plaque. This is especially true when the enamel does not have a smooth surface, but, on the contrary, has a rough surface.

As a rule, aluminosilicate, dicalcium phosphate, hydroxide and silicon dioxide, and aerosil act as abrasives.

Experts recommend using products with a high content of the listed components for smokers and coffee lovers.

Enzymes

Plant substances, usually presented in the form of bromelain and papain, significantly soften plaque on teeth.

As a result, bacteria are easily removed with a brush. Enzymes do not harm hard tissues and do not affect the microflora of the oral cavity.

Flavors

These components are not the main criterion for selecting a special drug, since each person has his own taste.

Some people prefer menthol products, while others want to use odorless gels. Although, if there is a braces system in the oral cavity, it is important that the composition provides the opportunity to maintain fresh breath for a long time.

For example, some manufacturers do not include flavorings in the cleansing product compounds, but replace them with Perilla seed extract and silver ions, due to which a pleasant breath smell is felt throughout the day.

Anti-inflammatory components

As mentioned above, gums can also suffer from orthodontic treatment without proper care. Bacteria accumulated on the enamel tend to secrete acids, which are irritants for the soft tissues of the oral cavity.

As a result, wearing braces can result in the development of gum inflammation. That is why it is important that the product contains anti-inflammatory components. Among the most common elements are sage, myrrh, chamomile, propolis, St. John's wort, and allantoin.

However, if the development of gum disease has already started, in addition to a special paste, you will have to resort to treatment with medications prescribed by a specialist.

Importance of use

The presence of braces in the oral cavity often results in the development of caries or other oral diseases.

This happens due to the fact that the usual composition of the paste is not able to cope with the formation of plaque on the enamel, as a result of food debris getting into the gap between the enamel and the structural parts. In addition, the accumulated bacteria affects the health of the gums, leading to inflammation.

Therefore, it is so important to strengthen the protection of teeth so that correcting the bite does not become a source of oral diseases.