How to choose the best toothpaste for cleaning teeth and braces when correcting your bite

The effectiveness of braces for correcting bites is confirmed by most dentists. But installing an orthodontic system makes oral hygiene more difficult, which increases the risk of developing caries and other dental diseases. How to properly brush teeth with braces with a toothbrush? We will tell you in the article what other hygiene rules to follow.

What are braces and why are they needed?

Braces are an orthodontic structure designed to correct the bite and straighten the teeth. They are worn to correct misaligned teeth and achieve a beautiful smile. Braces systems consist of individual brackets, which are attached to the surface of the teeth using special glue and connected to each other with a metal arch. The latter has shape memory; under its pressure, the teeth move to the correct position.

What are braces and why are they needed?
How long do you wear braces?
Can wearing braces harm your teeth?
What products will be needed for care?
Can I clean my braces with a regular brush?
What brushes can be used to care for the braces system?
Can I clean my braces with an electric brush?
Is an ultrasonic brush suitable for caring for braces?
How to brush teeth with braces: the correct algorithm
How else can you clean your braces?
Professional cleaning
What foods are not recommended to be consumed while wearing braces?
The secret to a beautiful smile and healthy teeth

Only at first glance, braces seem to be a simple device. In practice, this is a complex structure, the manufacture of which requires jewelry precision.

Rules of application

To effectively combat bacterial plaque, a special paste composition alone is not enough. You still need to master the cleaning technique.

There are no special rules for using orthodontic paste. The product, as when cleaning enamel with the usual composition, is squeezed onto the brush in an identical amount. The technique of brush movements and the duration of the procedure play a big role.

It is necessary to pay attention to each tooth to which the structure is adjacent, and especially to the area of contact between braces and enamel. For this purpose, modern dentistry suggests using brushes, monotuft brushes, and irrigators.

The duration of the procedure should not be less than 5 minutes, otherwise the beneficial components of the composition will not have time to fully manifest themselves.

Can wearing braces harm your teeth?

There is an opinion that braces can ruin teeth, damage enamel, and provoke the development of caries and other oral diseases. Dentists claim that modern braces installed by a professional orthodontist in a good clinic are absolutely safe for your teeth if you are not allergic to the materials.

Problems arise when the user violates the doctor’s recommendations and neglects the rules of hygienic care. If you do not properly and thoroughly clean your braces and the teeth underneath them, then pathological processes may begin in the oral cavity. Plaque that accumulates near braces promotes the proliferation of microbes and increases the risk of developing caries, gingivitis, and stomatitis.

This is easy to prevent; you just need to brush your teeth with braces in a timely manner and correctly.

What should you give up right away?

Before installing a brace system, the orthodontist warns the patient about certain limitations. What should you avoid?

Do not use adhesive products that can stick between small structural elements (for example, toffee candies, chewing gum, prunes, etc.);
You should avoid eating solid foods that can damage the integrity of the system;
You can use fresh fruits and vegetables only after they have been pre-chopped;
You should stop eating ice cream and other products containing ice;
avoiding drinks that contain natural dyes - wine, coffee or strong tea.

Dyes found in products stain tooth enamel. If in a normal situation this plaque can be cleaned off, then with a bracket system installed, the procedure will be extremely difficult. After removing the structure, the contours of the braces will remain in the places where the braces were glued to the surface of the enamel.

What products will be needed for care?

To ensure thorough care of an orthodontic structure such as braces, a set of hygienic measures is needed. The following devices and tools will help provide them.

Toothbrush.

It should have soft bristles that will not damage the structure. You can purchase a special orthodontic one. V-neck model with stubble.

Paste with calcium and fluoride.

These substances in toothpaste will strengthen the enamel and help prevent the risk of damage.

Ershik.

Special brushes help remove food debris and plaque from under the metal arch and around the brackets.

Super floss.

Orthodontic dental floss designed specifically for cleaning braces, dentures and other dental structures.

Irrigator.

This device is ideal for gentle and effective care of braces. To clean them of dirt, you need to buy a device with a special orthodontic attachment. The irrigator cleans the structure using a water jet under pressure and, additionally, the mechanical action of the bristles of the nozzle.

Mouth rinse solution.

Its use soothes the gums and prevents the growth of bacteria.

Varieties

The modern market of orthodontic pastes presents a wide range of products. Check out some types of formulations from different manufacturers.

Curasept ADS 350

The composition of the special gel is characterized by a high content of the antiseptic component – chlorhexidine (0.5%). It is used to protect gums, however, it is not intended for daily use.

The active substance contained in the composition prevents the formation of pathogenic bacteria and destroys the structure of existing harmful microflora.

In addition, chlorhexidine helps to cover the tooth and gums with a protective film, which for a long time prevents the harmful effects of microorganisms. system serves to prevent the formation of discolored spots on the enamel.

Apply the gel to the teeth and gums using a brush or brush. After treatment with the oral cavity composition, you should refrain from eating and drinking for 2 hours. The antiseptic can be used for 3-5 days.

The cost of the gel ranges from 1,100 to 1,200 rubles.

Curasept ADS 712

The gel-like preparation is intended for daily use. The composition is characterized by a high content of chlorhexidine bigluconate.

Only 0.12% of the substance resists the development of caries and has healing properties for existing periodontitis or gingivitis.

The paste contains an enzyme - silicon dioxide hydrate and sodium metabisulfate, which prevents the leaching of the antiseptic substance. The product has no special rules for use.

The cost of antibacterial paste does not exceed 1,000 rubles.

Curasept ADS 720

This paste completes a series of specially developed preparations from a Swiss manufacturer, rich in chlorhexidine content.

Containing 0.2% of the active substance, it actively fights plaque formation and prevents the development of caries. This composition does not irritate the oral mucosa and does not change the color of the enamel.

In addition, the use of the paste is recommended as a complex therapy for inflammatory diseases of soft tissues.

To achieve high performance indicators, experts advise using the paste together with a mouthwash and a toothbrush from the same manufacturer.

The cost of the universal composition is 850-950 rubles in various stores.

Biorepair Junior

Children's toothpaste is recommended for use while wearing orthodontic appliances. The composition is distinguished by the presence of particles of liquid enamel.

The elements of the product help restore the structure of hard tissues and have anti-caries properties. However, the paste does not contain fluoride.

The composition is absolutely safe, has a pleasant taste and a calming effect, which makes it possible to accustom the child to daily oral care.

Application is intended for ages up to 13 years.

The cost of the product will cost parents 300-400 rubles.

Green Ice MicroGranules

Gel-like orthodontic paste contains fluorides, which strengthen the enamel structure, creating a barrier to the development of caries.

Thanks to its granular composition, the product perfectly cleans the interdental space and also helps to easily remove plaque in the area where the structure comes into contact with the enamel, without harming the gums.

The presence of mint and eucalyptus essential oils ensures fresh breath for a long time.

The cost is approximately 200 rubles.

Dentaid Vitis Orthodontic

The composition of the paste of the Spanish manufacturer is distinguished by the presence of:

cetylperidine chloride – an antiseptic substance that prevents the formation of bacterial plaque on teeth and braces, and also protects gums from infection;
sodium fluoride – a component that prevents irritation of soft tissues and reanimates enamel;
aloe vera is a substance that accelerates the healing process of affected areas of soft tissue and fights inflammation.

Manufacturers recommend using a mouthwash of the same name together with the paste.

The cost of the product does not exceed 260 rubles.

Pierrot Natural Freshness

The line differs in containing only natural ingredients. The universal composition actively fights plaque build-up while wearing braces and ensures fresh breath for a long time.

The main components (sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride) nourish the enamel with the microelements necessary for its health and promote the healing of cracks in the structure of hard tissues.

The composition is suitable for people suffering from hypersensitive gums.

The cost of a natural remedy is in the range of 250-300 rubles.

"Professor Persin" Protection Formula for Sensitive Teeth

The specialized composition of the paste is intended for daily oral care and is created to solve a variety of dental problems.

Includes:

potassium nitrate – creates a barrier against external irritants;
sodium fluoride is an important nutritional component for hard tissues, thereby strengthening their structure and preventing the formation of carious lesions;
xylitol - acts as a moisturizer for the oral mucosa;
aloe juice is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent that nourishes oral tissues with amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and beneficial minerals.

The composition does not cause an allergic reaction and does not irritate the mucous membrane.

The cost of the paste does not exceed 200 rubles.

"Professor Persin" Bacteria Protection Formula

A specialized composition was created to solve many problems of the oral cavity. Natural components of sage, chamomile and calendula extract have anti-inflammatory properties, promote the regeneration of hard and soft tissues, and reduce bleeding gums.

Additional substances such as xylitol and biosol moisturize the oral cavity and have an anti-caries effect.

The paste does not have any special instructions regarding its use and costs the consumer 150-180 rubles.

What brushes can be used to care for the braces system?

The set of special brushes for braces includes three types:

orthodontic;
monobeam;
interdental

An orthodontic brush has bristles of different lengths. They are short in the center to better clean the protruding parts of the braces, and long at the edges to remove plaque from the surface of the teeth. Thanks to this design, the bristles do not get tangled in the clasps of the brackets, while cleaning the surfaces well.

Use a mono-beam toothbrush to remove deposits from under locks and hard-to-reach areas. Structurally, it consists of a handle and a cleaning head with one tuft of long bristles. Typically used as an addition to an orthodontic brush.

The interdental brush resembles a brush in appearance: its bristles are arranged spirally around a wire base. Use a brush to clean the interdental spaces and surfaces of the teeth under the arch.

Is an ultrasonic brush suitable for caring for braces?

Among electric toothbrushes, there are ultrasonic models that act on oral impurities using ultrasound. A number of dentists do not recommend using ultrasonic brushes to clean braces, as they can lead to rapid wear and damage to the structure. Others allow the use of an ultrasonic brush to clean orthodontic appliances.

To avoid damage to the structure, we recommend that before using an ultrasonic brush, you consult with the dentist who installed the braces.

Reviews of orthodontic products

Information about brushes that are produced for cleaning braces can be found on the Internet. People who wear such devices use different products.

For a long time I was afraid to get braces. What scared me was that they are difficult to care for, and the wrong brush can even ruin them. I first consulted with an orthodontist about this issue. He advised several options. I immediately abandoned the electric model. I used one like this as a teenager, but I didn’t like it. Therefore, I purchased a dental brush and a regular brush from Oral B. To prevent food debris from remaining in the braces, I always brush my teeth after eating.

Tatiana

When I got braces at school, I didn’t think to get special brushes. Due to the usual models, several wires were damaged, which were bent in different directions. I often had to go to the doctor to have everything fixed. For some reason, he didn’t say that I needed to use certain products, which I only learned about from the Internet. I threw away the old brush and bought a mono-tuft brush. There were no problems with it while brushing my teeth. I choose models with soft bristles so as not to irritate my gums.

Catherine

I've been wearing braces for six months now.
The orthodontist immediately said that I needed to use special brushes, but I didn’t listen to him. For the first week, I brushed my teeth normally, which caused the appliance to constantly move and become damaged in some places. I had to buy a Miradent I-Prox P brush and a special brush. I was very pleased with the results of cleaning with such devices. They quickly clean not only the teeth, but also the braces themselves, which do not deteriorate due to the high-quality bristles. Alyona

How to brush teeth with braces: the correct algorithm

You need to brush your braces very carefully so as not to damage the structure:

First, the removable parts of the orthodontic system, if any, are removed.
Squeeze a little paste onto the brush and place it at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface of the teeth.
Using movements from top to bottom, carefully clean the areas around the metal arch, locks, and thoroughly clean the accessible surfaces of the dentition from plaque.
Then brush each tooth individually in a circular motion with light pressure. Each tooth is treated for approximately 10 seconds.
Use a brush to massage the gums and clean the surface of the tongue from plaque.
The brush is placed under the arc and plaque and food debris are removed from there using up and down movements.
Using superfloss, you carefully, without injuring your gums, clean the interdental spaces and hard-to-reach areas under the system.

Clean the gingival sulcus and tooth joints with a single-tuft brush.
Rinse the mouth with water or a special liquid.

How else can you clean your braces?

For thorough oral hygiene, brushing with a toothbrush is not enough. An irrigator will help remove food debris from under all structural elements and effectively clean the dental spaces. It's easy to use. You need to fill a special reservoir with water, put the orthodontic attachment on the device and place it in your mouth. Leaning over the sink, turn on the device and use a water jet to clean each element of the bracket system and the interdental spaces in turn.

Orthodontists advise every person who corrects their bite with a dental structure to use an irrigator. It allows you to cope with hygiene tasks that a toothbrush cannot solve.

Professional cleaning

Once every two to four months, doctors recommend professional oral hygiene in the dentist’s office. It allows you to remove pigmented plaque, stone, stains, restore the natural color of teeth, restore the smoothness of enamel, reduce the risk of dental diseases, and freshen breath. Regular professional hygiene simplifies daily home care of braces. What is the standard procedure?

The doctor removes the arch and other parts of the structure to gain free access to the interdental spaces. Removes stone from tooth enamel and appliance locks using ultrasound. Removes pigmented plaque thanks to a special gentle technology: a cleaning solution is sprayed onto the teeth. The dentist then polishes the enamel to make it smooth and reduce the risk of new plaque forming. At the end of the procedure, the teeth are fluoridated to strengthen the enamel and all parts of the structure are attached back.

Requirements

When purchasing orthodontic paste, you don’t have to follow the lead of cunning marketers who attract customers with bright advertising and beautiful packaging. First of all, you should be interested in the content of the funds.

Experts recommend using cleansers that contain fluoride and calcium. These elements are necessary when correcting defects with braces, as they help strengthen the enamel and fight bacteria.

Please note! At the beginning of orthodontic treatment, the fluoride and calcium content should be minimal so that the strength of contact between the system and the enamel is not impaired.

In addition, the presence of other elements is required, which will be discussed in more detail below.

What foods are not recommended to be consumed while wearing braces?

Excluding certain foods from your diet will help maintain the health of your teeth and oral cavity when wearing braces. These include viscous, sticky, hard foods and those that provoke enamel hypersensitivity. For example, nuts, candies, crackers, crackers, toffees, marmalade, chewing gum, corn flakes.