Regular and correct brushing is very important during orthodontic treatment. Because nutrients and microorganisms can more easily adhere to the recessed areas of the brackets and wires, causing permanent damage to the teeth. These permanent damages (teeth discoloration, gingival problems and caries formation) can harm the entire purpose of orthodontic treatment for aesthetic purposes, especially when it comes to anterior teeth.
In addition, dental calculus formed between wires and brackets due to lack of brushing can make tooth movement difficult and prolong the treatment period.
As described below, brushing with braces and braces is more challenging than normal tooth brushing. However, you should brush your teeth regularly throughout your treatment so that your teeth are not permanently damaged and your orthodontic treatment is not prolonged.
Toothbrushes:
Regular toothbrush:
The toothbrush used should be soft enough to bend and bend under the brackets, but at the same time hard enough to remove bacterial plaque from the surfaces of the teeth. A soft or multi-bristled medium hard brush is ideal for this. At the same time, it is recommended that the brush head is small and that there are no plastic protrusions on the sides that cause the accumulation of bacterial plaque. The brush must be changed at least once every 6 months.
Interface brush:
A 0.6mm or 0.7mm interface brush is sufficient for cleaning between both brackets and between the wire and the bracket. The interface brush should be changed once a month.
Orthodontic tooth brushing technique:
First of all, it is started from the most posterior anterior surface of the right or left teeth. By making 6 rounds in each tooth, the front surfaces of the teeth are cleaned by coming from the rearmost tooth to the most anterior tooth. The right and left sides are combined at the front.
In order to clean the gingival parts of the teeth, the brush is inserted between the gingiva and the bracket, and both the right and left front surfaces are cleaned by coming forward from the rearmost tooth.
The inner parts of the teeth are cleaned with the same technique, that is, with 6 rounds of rounding motion in each tooth.
Finally, the upper parts of the teeth are cleaned by performing 6 rounds of circular motion.
The interface brush, on the other hand, is touched to the sides, top and bottom parts of the brackets and the surrounding of the brackets is cleaned.