Frank Tsung-Ju Hsieh, DDS, MSD

Brushing and Flossing

CLEANING TEETH DURING ORTHODONTICS

When?

Within five minutes after you eat. Easy to say but sometimes hard to do? When you're away from home, we suggest you carry a travel type of folding toothbrush with you.

How?

First, brush back and forth across...between the wires and gums on the upper and lower to loosen the food particles.

Next, brush correctly as if you had no bands on. Start on the outside of the uppers with bristles at a 45 degree angle toward the gum.

Scrub with a circular motion, two or three teeth at a time using 10 strokes, and move on. The same on the inner surfaces of the uppers.

Scrub the chewing surfaces last. Start on the outside of the lower teeth and repeat the process. Remember, direct the brush at an angle toward the gum area.

Rinse your mouth and toothbrush. Look in a mirror to see if you have missed any places. Check the little half-moon spaces of teeth between the bands and gums and the space between the molar tubes and gums.

If you see any areas you have missed, clean them now. Be sure to floss the areas to catch the areas that the tooth brush will have missed.

When you finish, the bands and wires should be free of all food particles and the soft white coating (called plaque).

The braces should look clean and shiny. 

Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the Proxabrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxabrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Antibacterial Mouthwash
LISTERINE®  will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks. LISTERINE® helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with LISTERINE® for 30 seconds and then spit it out.

Topical Fluoride
Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel that helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. Place a small strip of Phos-Flur on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you use Phos-Flur. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.

Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable appliance every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, brush the appliance daily. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.

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