Brushing with braces: a routine that protects teeth for life

Brackets trap plaque. Without the right routine, braces come off to reveal white chalky spots. Here's how to avoid them.

Braces straighten teeth — but every bracket and wire is a new place for plaque to hide. The most common problem when braces come off is chalky white marks around where the brackets sat: early decay that formed during treatment.

The daily routine

• Brush after every meal where possible, and always before bed.
• Angle the brush above the wire towards the gum, then below the wire. A V-shaped orthodontic brush makes this easier.
• Use an interdental brush to clean under the wire and between brackets.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste — and a fluoride rinse at a different time of day if the orthodontist recommends one.

Food rules

• Avoid sticky and hard foods: toffees, chewing gum with sugar, hard nuts, ice.
• Keep sugary and fizzy drinks to mealtimes, or skip them.

Check your work

A weekly disclosing tablet is especially useful with braces: the pink shows exactly which brackets are being missed. Our Plaque Hunt turns it into a score.

Straight teeth with white spots is not the result anyone wants. Ten extra seconds per bracket prevents it.

General information for healthy children. It does not replace an examination by a dentist.