Teen braces are a responsibility that require attentive care at home. Working around the braces can be difficult, but it’s necessary to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and other dental health problems. This video explains how teens should clean their teeth and braces.
The first thing to do is maintain your brushing habits. Brush your teeth twice a day, as usual. Make sure you brush the top, front, and bottom of the braces. Angle your toothbrush to properly cover all sides of your braces and teeth. It may take extra time, but it will prevent white spots from building up on your teeth and marring your smile when the braces come off.
Next is flossing. Flossing can be difficult due to the wiring that connects braces. A floss threader can help. Put the floss through the threader, and thread the floss under the wire between your teeth and braces. It’s a bit time-consuming, but it will prevent gingivitis and cavities between the teeth that can negate the work the braces are doing.
You can also use a proxabrush to get food particles out from under the braces. Don’t force it, though! You don’t want to break off a bracket. For more information, check out the video in the link above.