If you’re thinking about orthodontic treatment (or have recently started), you might need some brushing tips for your braces. Our Humphrey Orthodontics team has offices in St. Peters and Wentzville to help you with all the brushing questions you have! Dr. Mark Humphrey wants all our metal and clear braces patients to get what they’re after: a bright, dazzling new smile. To get there, we’ll walk you through our top tips for brushing your teeth during your orthodontic treatment.
Why Brushing Correctly Matters With Braces
Braces from Dr. Humphrey add teamwork to your tooth care. Brackets and wires create spaces where plaque likes to hide. Leave it too long, and acids can attack your tooth enamel (oh no!). If you don’t stick with our team’s braces brushing tips, you might see chalky white spots that remain once your braces come off.
Worse, hardened buildup can snap your brackets (whoa!). That could add repairs and push your treatment back. Dr. Humphrey reminds patients that two minutes of brushing with braces (morning and night) is quicker than an extra visit. Clean braces also mean shorter chair time at check-ups. Great news if you’re squeezing appointments between classes, work shifts, and extracurriculars. In short, smart brushing in Wentzville and St. Peters protects your teeth long-term. And, it helps our Humphrey Orthodontics team deliver the “shorter treatment times” we’re known for.
Tools of the Trade
You don’t need fancy gadgets, just the basics:
- A soft-bristle toothbrush or an orthodontic-cut brush with a V-shaped trim that hugs the wire.
- An electric brush (optional) gives off vibrations that help if you struggle with rushing the routine.
- Fluoride toothpaste to strengthen enamel and heal early weak spots.
- Interdental (proxy) brushes for sneaking under the archwire and cleaning around brackets after lunch.
- Waxed floss plus a threader or ready-to-use ortho floss picks (great for backpacks!).
- Water flosser for a nightly power rinse that blasts away the stubborn bits that proxy brushes miss.
Step-by-Step Brushing Technique
Follow Dr. Humphrey‘s brushing tips for braces twice a day (and after sweet treats):
- Rinse first. Swish water to loosen loose food.
- Top of the line. Angle the brush 45° down toward the brackets and wiggle along the wire for ten seconds per tooth.
- Bottom sweep. Flip the angle 45° up to clean the bracket edge and gumline. Tiny circles beat harsh scrubbing.
- Front polish. Point bristles straight at the braces and give each tooth three quick strokes to knock loose hidden plaque.
- Chewing surfaces & tongue. Don’t forget biting edges and a gentle tongue sweep (fresh breath starts here).
- Two-minute timer. Hum your favorite song twice or use your phone’s timer or stopwatch.
Repeat at night, adding an interdental brush under the wire where a full-size brush can’t reach. Many of our Wentzville and St. Peters neighbors say this routine helps brushing with braces become automatic.
Flossing With Braces
Flossing can feel weird with braces. But skipping it invites cavities between teeth (can’t have that!). Thread waxed floss under the wire, hug one tooth’s side, slide up and down, then switch. No patience? Pre-strung ortho flossers speed things up, and a water flosser can blast away leftovers around brackets. Patients who follow Dr. Humphrey‘s brushing tips for braces often require fewer appointments.
Choosing the Right Toothpaste & Mouthwash
Not all toothpastes are created equal. Look for 1,000–1,500 ppm fluoride on the label. That’s the sweet spot for strengthening enamel without irritation. Skip whitening varieties for now. Your enamel won’t lighten evenly during your braces treatment.
Sensitive teeth after an adjustment? A paste with potassium will help without compromising your braces. Follow brushing with an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash each night. Swish for 60 seconds, and then spit.
Mistakes to Avoid
While we’re talking about brushing tips for your braces, here are a few common mistakes Dr. Humphrey sees in our Wentzville & St. Peters offices.
- Brushing too hard scratches enamel, bends wires, and irritates gums; steady pressure cleans just as well.
- Skipping fluoride toothpaste and rinse leaves the enamel defenseless against sugary sports drinks.
- Ignoring the gumline lets inflammation creep in, leading to puffy tissue around your brackets.
- Using whitening products now brightens only exposed enamel, which gives you two-tone teeth when your braces come off.
- Overnight is when cavity-causing bacteria party the hardest, so don’t forget to brush before bed!
FAQs About Brushing Tips With Braces
Still got questions about how to brush with braces? No problem! Our Humphrey Orthodontics team typically hears these the most.
Does it matter if you use a manual or electric toothbrush?
Either works. Electric brushes add power, but a soft manual brush does great when your technique is solid.
How often should I brush with braces?
At least twice daily (morning and night) plus a quick lunchtime rinse and proxy-brush session if you eat sticky foods.
Can mouthwash help?
Yes. Use an alcohol-free fluoride rinse before bed to soak brackets and strengthen enamel. Go for a full minute for best results.
What if a bracket feels rough on my cheek?
Dry the spot and press a pea-sized ball of orthodontic wax over the bracket. Call us for a quick fix during our early or late hours.
Is it okay to use a whitening mouth rinse?
Hold off. Whitening agents can’t reach under your brackets, so you might end up with uneven color. Save brightening products for retainer season.
Brushing With Braces At Humphrey Orthodontics
Need more info on brushing tips with braces from Dr. Humphrey? We’re here to help families in Wentzville and St. Peters get the most out of their treatment. We’re open late on Tuesdays and early on Thursdays, too! Go here to schedule your free consultation at Humphrey Orthodontics.