Brushing and Flossing in Sanford and Bayboro, NC

Brushing and flossing are both very important to maintaining oral health, especially when you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. If there is food stuck in your braces and left on any surface of the tooth for three or more days, it turns into plaque. Plaque will turn into white spots on your teeth that are cavities. And that can result in gum disease.

Brushing correctly keeps most tooth surfaces clean while flossing gets the surfaces in between. Drs. Brian and Lynn Smith recommend brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day.

Tips for Brushing and Flossing Success

We recommend the Oral-B Genius electric toothbrush for all of our patients wearing braces. Research shows that plaque removal is much better compared to a manual toothbrush. We are confident that using an electric toothbrush will help give our patients an amazing smile! Feel free to ask us about the Oral-B genius toothbrush. 

brushing with braces

When brushing, make sure to tilt the bristles of the toothbrush to get around the brackets. If you have a manual toothbrush, it will only work as good as the effort that is put into it—that’s you! If you opt for an electric toothbrush, it will do more of the work for you. Regardless of which type of toothbrush you choose, expect to spend about five minutes brushing to get into all the nooks and crannies in between your brackets and wires. It may be time consuming, but your smile will thank you in the end!

flossing with braces

If you have any questions about brushing your teeth while in braces, feel free to ask a member of our team the next time you visit our Sanford or Bayboro orthodontic offices!