Français

Oral Hygiene Guide The following is a guide to oral hygiene when wearing braces. This description of effective cleaning techiques is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for you to download and print.

How to Clean Braces
Braces trap food very easily which promotes plaque formation. Plaque can lead to gum disease and enamel damage. With the daily use of effective oral hygiene techniques, plaque build-up can be prevented.

The foundation of good oral hygiene is effective brushing. This is done with a fluoridated tooth paste and a soft bristled brush. Brushing should be done after every meal and snack and should be done slowly and carefully. It is important to not only brush the braces but also brush both the inside and chewing surfaces of the teeth.

The three steps to Effective Brushing

Step 1		Step 2		Step 3

Flossing With Braces
Flossing with braces should be done once a day.

Floss Threader		Superfloss		How to use Floss

Other Cleaning Techniques
Other hygiene aids that can be used to help keep your braces clean include:

Proxy Brush		Sulcabrush		End Tuft Brush

Mouthwashes
Mouthwashes are good at helping to maintain a clean mouth.

Details

Be sure to talk with your orthodontic specialist about other helpful tips on how to prevent permanent marks, or even cavities on your teeth, and also any gum infections (or problems) while you're wearing your braces.

Viewing and printing PDF documents requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer system, you can download it at no cost by clicking here: