Mastering Orthodontic Hygiene: A Guide to Cleaning Braces, Aligners, and Attachments

Keeping braces clean ensures sparkly teeth for years to come!

Mastering Orthodontic Hygiene: A Guide to Cleaning Braces, Aligners, and Attachments

Embarking on a journey toward a straighter smile is a significant investment in your long-term oral health and confidence. However, whether you are wearing traditional metal braces or modern clear aligners, your daily hygiene routine must evolve to accommodate your orthodontic appliances. Proper maintenance is not just about aesthetics; it is essential for preventing decalcification, cavities, and gingivitis during your treatment.

The Challenge of Braces and Attachments

Traditional braces and the small, tooth-colored bumps used with aligners—known as attachments—create additional surface area where plaque and food particles can accumulate. If left unaddressed, this buildup can lead to enamel staining or "white spots" that become visible once the appliances are removed. To prevent this, we recommend brushing after every meal using a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush. Angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline and ensure you clean both above and below the orthodontic wire.

Specialized Tools for Success

Standard flossing can be difficult with wires in the way. We suggest using a floss threader or specialized orthodontic floss to navigate between the teeth and under the archwire. Interproximal brushes (tiny "tree-shaped" brushes, which come in several sizes) are incredibly effective at removing debris from the tight spaces around brackets and attachments that a standard toothbrush might miss. Using a Waterpik also effectively removes plaque and bacteria around brackets and under the gumline.

Caring for Clear Aligners

Clear aligners offer a discreet way to straighten teeth, but they require their own specific care regimen. Bacteria can thrive inside the trays, leading to bad breath and potential tooth decay. If you have questions about aligner care, reach out to your orthodontist, but here are some aligner care tips:

1. Rinse Immediately: Every time you remove your aligners, rinse them with cool water to prevent saliva and plaque from drying on the surface.

2. Avoid Heat: Never use hot water, as it can warp the medical-grade plastic, affecting the fit and your progress.

3. Gentle Cleaning: Clean your aligners daily using a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive, clear liquid soap. Because toothpaste has abrasive particles, it can create microscopic scratches that make the aligners look cloudy.

Don't Forget the Attachments

Orthodontic attachments are designed to help aligners grip your teeth more effectively. Because they protrude slightly, plaque often gathers around their edges. When brushing, pay extra attention to these bumps, ensuring the bristles reach all the way around the perimeter of each attachment.

Electric Toothbrush

Generally speaking, for either traditional braces or aligners, electric toothbrushes work more effectively than manual brushing. Because they don’t require manual agitation, electric toothbrush heads can be angled around all the tight spaces, while dislodging any particulate matter, ensuring a cleaner mouth. While electric brush heads normally need to be changed every three months or so, the abrasiveness of the attachments and brackets, as well as the frequency of brushing, generally necessitate changing the brush heads closer to every two months while in orthodontic treatment.  As a general rule, if the bristles are starting to splay out, it’s time to change your brush head.

Professional Support

Maintaining your scheduled professional cleanings is more important than ever during orthodontic treatment. Our dental team can provide a deeper clean in areas that are hard to reach at home and monitor the health of your gums. By following these professional hygiene tips, you ensure that when your treatment is complete, your smile is not only straight but also healthy and vibrant.