I guess you finally made up your mind and got those braces that you have been thinking and rethinking about for quite a while. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, I know. Even so, aren’t you excited about what your teeth will look like in a year or two? But that’s all in the future. Let’s talk about the present.
So, did your dentist ask you to get a fancy new orthodontic brush and get rid of the old one? Whether he did or did not, you definitely need to get one. But why is it so important to get a separate brush when you get braces? Why isn’t a regular one enough? Well, let’s find out.
Do You Need A Different Toothbrush When You Have Braces?
A regular toothbrush is what we use to clean our oral cavity; teeth, tongue, and gums. When used with toothpaste on top, the bristles clean even the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth which otherwise will remain unclean if rinsed with water alone. Before the invention of toothbrushes, it wasn’t just water that we used to clean our teeth.
Twigs, feathers, and modified versions of bones are predecessors of toothbrushes, with which we cleaned our oral cavity. Similarly, the modern toothbrush has been subjected to modifications, trying to meet different requirements of the users and their teeth conditions.
An orthodontic toothbrush is such a modification to the regular toothbrush, designed to fit the oral hygiene needs of people wearing braces. While a regular toothbrush works to remove stains and plaque from a normal set of teeth, it fails to clean the plaque and food leftovers accumulated around the braces.
This is where an orthodontic brush comes in. Such toothbrushes have a ‘V’ shaped space in the middle of the bristles, which is solely meant for this purpose. Dentists mandate that everyone wearing braces replace their regular toothbrush with an orthodontic one to get the work done properly and neatly and avoid issues stemming from bacterial and plaque accumulation.
Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Toothbrush For Braces
There are certain factors that you need to consider and keep in mind while choosing a brush that suits your orthodontic needs.
- A size and shape that fits the braces: Since braces have hiding spots, it’s important to choose a brush that can reach into every corner of your teeth and clean them. Besides the ‘V’ shaped gap that can clean around the beads, what you need in your brush is a small head that can easily access the narrow areas in the oral cavity.
- Moderately soft bristles: You definitely shouldn’t use a brush with hard bristles. Those will damage the already sore enamel of the teeth and might lead to tooth decay. On the other hand, using a soft-bristled brush might not clean the nook and corner well. So, make sure to pick a brush that has soft bristles but not too soft, preferably nylon.
- A handle with enough grip: This is important since you should be able to hold the brush and apply enough pressure to navigate around your oral cavity without it slipping away. A brush with a silicone grip would be your best choice in this scenario.
How To Clean Your Teeth With Braces?
A question that quite often gets asked after getting braces is how many times should one brush his or her teeth. Is brushing your teeth twice a day enough? It’s a very relevant question, one you should ask your dentist even before getting your braces. So, what’s the right answer? That would ideally be, after every meal. However, if it’s not practical in your case, brush at least thrice a day and use a mouthwash in between. Besides this, there are a few more tips that you should be aware of if you have decided to get your teeth straightened any time soon.
- Every time you brush your teeth, use a moderate amount of toothpaste, not too much, or too little
- Regularly floss your teeth with a flossing thread or a Waterpik
- Brush for 2 to 3 minutes
- Try to reach into every nook and cranny of the teeth as well as the braces.
How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush When You Have Braces?
Do you know your brush accumulates bacteria every time you use it? It’s true. That’s why your dentist always tells you to change your brush every 3 to 4 months. So, is it the same with orthodontic brushes?
Well, with braces, your oral cavity creates more hiding spots for the bacteria, and naturally, the bacterial buildup on the brush you use at the time will have higher bacterial buildup compared to the regular one. Besides this, the bristles will also get worn out easily, making brushing ineffective. This is why you should change your orthodontic brush every 2 to 3 months, or sooner if you feel the need to.
Which Is Better: An Electric Or A Manual Toothbrush?
We are all familiar with manual toothbrushes and their working. They are easy to hold, control, and maneuver around in the oral cavity. So, how about electric toothbrushes? What makes them different? Well, for starters, they are electric, meaning they need power to work. They are usually battery-powered and do not require as much hand movement as you do with a regular toothbrush.
Manual toothbrushes are usually way cheaper than electric toothbrushes. They are easy to carry around, and let you decide how much pressure you need to apply when you brush your teeth. Electric toothbrushes, although a little on the pricier end, are more effective in certain cases. They remove plaque buildup better than manual toothbrushes do and will be more useful for people with limited hand mobility. Also, it’s useful for people with a cognitive disability, children who are learning how to take care of their teeth, and yes, those with braces.
The decision of which one to choose between the two is mostly about personal preferences. If you think your regular one is getting the job done, then it’s enough. However, if you wouldn’t mind an extra hand to help keep your teeth clean, go for the electric ones. Either way, all that matters is to keep them clean and healthy, without getting infections.
Conclusion
I think it’s safe to say that now you have a better understanding as to why you need to get a new brush for your braces, an orthodontic one, and why the regular one won’t do. Orthodontic brushes are specifically designed for this purpose and clean your teeth with braces far better than normal brushes do.
We have also talked about how to pick the right brush for your braces that will work efficiently but won’t hurt your teeth. The toothbrush you use must have moderately soft bristles, a grip, and should fit between the small spaces in your oral cavity.
After getting braces, your teeth and gums require special attention that could help prevent bacterial infestation inside the oral cavity and its consequnecs. Make sure to brush at least three times a day, use mouthwash with fluoride content, floss after every meal, and more importantly, replace regular toothbrushes with orthodontic ones. So, that’s pretty much everything you need to keep in mind to properly take care of your teeth, especially when they need a little extra care.
FAQs
It is not recommended. Normal toothbrushes often fail to get the work done properly, which might lead to severe bacterial infections and conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis.
Orthodontic brushes are the recommended toothbrushes for people with braces. They are designed to clean every corner of the oral cavity, working around the braces.
A regular toothbrush is manual and only needs one of your hands to work. On the other hand, electric toothbrushes are battery-powered and involve fewer hand movements.
If you have got braces, yes. If not, you are good with a regular toothbrush, manual or electric.
Toothbrush for braces are known as orthodontic toothbrushes. They have a ‘V’ shaped gap in the middle to clean around the braces.
Apparently, they are. Electric toothbrushes can pierce into the hiding sports created by the dental tool and clean thoroughly and more effectively compared to manual toothbrushes.
