How to Clean Your Braces

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Watch more How to Have Good Oral Hygiene videos: howcast.com/videos/206-How-to-Clean-Your-Braces

Just imagine: your orthodontist finally removes your braces and holds up the mirror to reveal perfectly straight teeth...filled with cavities! Don't let this nightmare happen to you, clean your braces care.

Step 1: Consult orthodontist
Consult your orthodontist for any specific brushing and flossing instructions, as well products recommendations.

Step 2: Remove rubber bands
If you use rubber bands, remove them from your braces before you brush.

Step 3: Brush often
Brush your teeth at least four times a day, and after every meal, with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

Tip
Be sure to get a new toothbrush every three months--braces have a tendency to wear brushes down quickly.

Step 4: Brush in circles
Brush in small circles, wiggling the brush around the contours and crevices of the braces, spending about 10-15 seconds on each tooth.

Step 5: Brush all over
Brush your gums, the roof of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks.

Tip
You can also try an inter-proximal brush, which looks sort of like a pipe cleaner and helps you remove plaque from difficult-to-reach areas.

Step 6: Rinse mouth
Rinse your mouth thoroughly with mouthwash or water after brushing.

Step 7: Floss
Floss at least once a day with 18 inches of waxed floss.

Tip
Using a floss threader might make this process easier.

Step 8: Thread floss
Thread the floss under the main wire and between two teeth.

Step 9: Floss up & down
Move the floss up and down along the sides of each of the teeth.

Step 10: Continue flossing
Continue threading and flossing until you've cleaned between each tooth and behind the last tooth.

Step 11: Rinse mouth again
Rinse your mouth again with mouthwash or water.

Step 12: Replace rubber bands
Replace any rubber bands, and remind yourself that one day this all be history--and you'll have beautiful teeth to show for it.

Did You Know?
Think braces are pricey now? At the turn of the 19th century they were made from silver, platinum and fourteen- to eighteen-karat gold.