Guidebook

Fixed braces – What now? Proper care and other useful tips!

You often hear horror stories about braces: an uncomfortable feeling when wearing them, open spots in the mouth or aesthetic restrictions during treatment. But it’s not all that bad! You don’t even have to rethink your care routine. With good oral hygiene, you not only maintain a comfortable wearing experience, but also prevent stained teeth and the development of caries.
So the good news is: you are probably already doing a lot of things right and don’t need to invest much more time or money in oral care. Below we give you some practical tips on how to care for your braces and teeth properly and answer the most important questions about oral hygiene and braces.

Author
Dr. Fabian von Rom

Date

22. Sep 2021

Estimated reading time
approx. 8 min

Maintaining fixed braces

Contents

Correct care of braces

While wearing braces, your teeth and oral cavity are definitely challenged. If they are not cleaned properly, tooth decay can occur with or without braces. Poor oral hygiene in combination with braces sometimes leaves unsightly white spots on the teeth after the braces have been removed. To prevent these problems directly, the fixed braces must be cleaned properly. You hardly need any additional aids for this, just use your usual toothbrushes and toothpastes. What is more important is correct handling and the correct duration of use.

The right brush: electric or manual?
Are electric or manual toothbrushes better for caring for braces? This question is not so easy to answer, it is much more important that you brush thoroughly with the bristles and for a sufficiently long time! Whether the bristles of the toothbrush are hard or soft is also not really relevant – the main thing is that the bristles reach all areas and niches of the teeth and braces.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that current studies on electric toothbrushes suggest that using them leads to the same result in less time than using a manual toothbrush. Either way, thorough brushing ensures optimal care of your braces and therefore also your teeth.
The right toothpaste for braces
You can hardly go wrong with the right toothpaste for proper braces care. The most important thing is a certain amount of fluoride in the toothpaste, the rest is up to your taste! Fluoride ensures that your tooth enamel becomes harder and thus remains more resistant to tooth decay.
Rinsing with braces: yes or no?
In principle, there is nothing to be said against using mouthwash when wearing braces. Simply continue to use your usual rinse as usual. But pay attention to the ingredients! Excessive use of products containing chlorhexidine (CHX) can cause tooth discoloration and taste irritation.

Brushing your teeth properly with braces

Brushing your teeth correctly plays an important role in preventing tooth decay and avoiding unsightly discoloration after removing braces. Of course, like all people, you have developed a certain tooth brushing routine over the years – but this is precisely why it is important to remind yourself of the correct brushing method from time to time:

Brush your teeth properly:
It makes sense to clean with a system so that you don’t forget any spots. Here is an example of a possible procedure:
- Start by brushing the back left of the chewing surfaces and clean the chewing surfaces following the dental arch until you reach the back right.
- Then clean the outer surfaces of all teeth, including your braces. In the same way. Then brush the inner surfaces again from tooth to tooth from the back tooth on one side to the last tooth on the other side.
- Make sure that the back teeth also have back surfaces that need to be cleaned thoroughly! These are usually a little more difficult to reach and are often forgotten.
Special features of brushing with braces:
Especially if you wear fixed braces, it is particularly important to brush all niches and hard-to-reach areas well. Particular attention should be paid to the spaces between the teeth and the areas behind the arch. The tooth surfaces at the transition to the gums are also often forgotten, which can easily lead to gum inflammation. You should therefore always clean the junction between the tooth and gum carefully but thoroughly. Good to know!
- If you brush your teeth by hand, you should brush for at least three minutes. If you prefer to use an electric toothbrush, we recommend brushing for at least two minutes. Ideally, you should clean your teeth and braces thoroughly after every meal, but at least twice a day (morning/evening).
- If you notice slight bleeding or pain in your gums during or after brushing, this is not usually due to a brush that is too hard or that you have brushed too hard. These symptoms indicate inflammation of the gums. This is best treated with regular oral hygiene and careful care of the teeth and braces. If you clean the affected areas well and keep them clean, the inflammation will disappear quickly and it will stop hurting or bleeding.

Additional gadgets for care

Flossing while wearing fixed braces is difficult when there is wire everywhere in the way. But don’t worry! There are other gadgets that you can use for oral care beyond normal brushing. So-called interdental brushes allow you to clean in a similar way to dental floss. Interdental brushes are available online, at drugstores or pharmacies. An oral irrigator can also be used.

Dr. Fabian von Rom

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the care of fixed braces

Why do some patients have stains or edges of the brackets on their teeth after removing their fixed braces?

If teeth and braces are not cleaned for a long time or are cleaned incorrectly, this can lead to demineralization of the enamel and tooth decay. This leads to visible decalcification of the teeth, which is perceived as unaesthetic stains and is unfortunately irreversible. This is why it is so important to brush your teeth properly and remove plaque, especially with braces.
Internal braces have a significantly lower risk of caries and decalcification than external braces. The risk is about 10 times lower.

Do fixed braces damage your teeth?

No, fixed braces are generally completely harmless for teeth and the oral cavity. Only in combination with poor oral hygiene can problems such as tooth decay, discoloration or inflammation occur.

Caries due to fixed braces? How do I prevent tooth decay with fixed braces?

The best way to prevent tooth decay is with proper oral hygiene and careful dental care. You don't usually have to change much in your normal care routine.

Cleaning fixed braces with an electric toothbrush?

Compared to a manual toothbrush, cleaning with an electric toothbrush achieves equally good results in less time if used correctly. Some manufacturers offer special attachments for dental care with fixed braces. Whether the bristles are hard or soft is of secondary importance - the main thing is that you brush thoroughly and regularly!

My child wears braces, can he or she use a daily mouthwash?

Mouthwash can also be used with fixed braces. However, it does not replace cleaning with a toothbrush and is merely a supplement. Products containing chlorhexidine should not be used excessively and for long periods of time. They can lead to tooth discoloration and altered taste perception.

Your expert for orthodontics
Dr. Fabian von Rom

In the specialist practice for orthodontics, Dr. med, dent. Fabian von Rom uses his extensive expertise and many years of experience to offer patients the best possible care. The practice offers the entire spectrum of modern orthodontics and specializes in innovative and advanced treatment methods. In addition to traditional procedures, the focus is on treatment with invisible braces for teenagers and adults - one of the most modern and discreet solutions in orthodontics. Dr. med. dent. Fabian von Rom attaches great importance to ensuring that medical precision goes hand in hand with a high level of patient satisfaction. By equipping the practice exclusively with individual treatment rooms, individual and professional care at the highest level is guaranteed.

Further topics

In our guide you will find lots more information on current, relevant and interesting topics relating to orthodontics. We hope you enjoy reading it!