How To Brush Your Teeth And Floss With Braces - Oral-B

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BRACES Life Stages How To Brush Your Teeth With Braces Last Updated : December 11, 2025

Summary

Brushing your teeth with braces may seem like a daunting task, but with the right techniques and tools, it becomes a manageable part of your daily routine. Braces create tiny nooks and crannies where food particles and plaque can hide. If not cleaned properly, this can lead to cavities, gum issues, or even staining once your braces come off. Brushing isn't just about keeping your teeth clean. It's about protecting your investment in your smile. This guide will walk you through the best practices for brushing your teeth with braces. It requires some effort, but it’s worth it.

Key Takeaways

• Brush after every meal to remove food particles and plaque
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, ideally one with features specifically designed for orthodontics, to more effectively clean around brackets and wires
• Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and also angle it from above and below to clean around the brackets and wires
• Floss regularly. Braces make it even more important to make flossing a part of your routine, which can be supplemented with a water flosser
• Keep dentist and dental hygienist appointments. Regular check-ups and cleanings are essential for monitoring your oral health

Table of Contents

• Guide to Brushing With Braces
• Additional Tools
• How Often Should You Brush
• What to Avoid
• Summary
• Braces: Support for Your Oral Health as You Straighten
• FAQs
• Sources

This blog has been reviewed and approved by Dr Robert Lee, a dental professional of 35 years

LEARN MORE >

Dr Robert Lee

Dr Robert Lee is a dentist with more than thirty years of experience in the industry.

Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Business Administration, Robert’s career has taken him all over the world – from Australia to Germany to his current position in Chicago, where he is the founder of Denticus Inc., offering strategic dental consulting.

Robert has previously worked for Procter & Gamble as the Director of Professional Scientific Relations in both the Cincinnati and Sydney offices, being responsible for external relations and scientific exchange with leading professional associations and industry thought leaders. He was also responsible for all technical and scientific training for the professional teams in North America and Australia.

You can find a list of some of the other blogs Robert has approved below:

SEE MORE

• Receding Gums: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
• What are Dental Caries? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Dental Scaling and Root Planing Explained
• Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
• Types of Gum Disease: Stages, Factors & Related Conditions
• Cavity Treatments: What are Ways to Treat Cavities?
• Tooth Plaque and Dental Tartar
• What is Periodontitis? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Tooth Decay and Cavities: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
• Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes, Remedies, and Treatments

SEE LESS

Key Takeaways

• Brush after every meal to remove food particles and plaque
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, ideally one with features specifically designed for orthodontics, to more effectively clean around brackets and wires
• Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and also angle it from above and below to clean around the brackets and wires
• Floss regularly. Braces make it even more important to make flossing a part of your routine, which can be supplemented with a water flosser
• Keep dentist and dental hygienist appointments. Regular check-ups and cleanings are essential for monitoring your oral health

Guide to Brushing With Braces

Brushing with braces takes a little more focus and effort than brushing without. Here’s what you need to know.

• Rinse First: Rinse your mouth with water to loosen any food particles stuck in your braces. It makes brushing more effective
• Choose the Right Toothbrush: Soft-bristled brushes, preferably those designed for braces, that can reach around brackets and wires more effectively. An electric toothbrush with a timer is also a good choice. Just make sure the brush head isn’t too large to move around your braces
• Brush at a 45-Degree Angle: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline and move the brush in small, circular motions. Brush gently to clean the area where your teeth and gums meet
• Clean Above and Below Brackets: For the top part of the brackets, angle the brush downward to clean above the brackets. For the bottom part of the brackets, angle the brush upward to clean below the brackets
• Brush All Tooth Surfaces: Make sure to brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Use a gentle back-and-forth motion for the outer and inner surfaces, and use a scrubbing motion for the chewing surfaces
• Floss: Helps clean between teeth and around your braces. Use a floss threader or orthodontic floss to get the floss under the archwire and between teeth
• Rinse Thoroughly: After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with water or an antimicrobial mouthwash. An antimicrobial mouthwash helps kill bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis, removing any remaining debris and freshening your breath.

Additional Tools

To take your oral health routine to the next level while brushing with braces, here are some tools that could help.

• Orthodontic Toothbrush: Designed to clean around braces, it has V-shaped bristles that can reach under the wires and around brackets
• Electric Toothbrush: Can provide more consistent brushing motions around brackets and may be easier to use with braces
• Interdental Toothbrush: Tiny, bottle-brush-like tool that is a great tool for cleaning between teeth and around brackets. It can reach spots a regular toothbrush might miss
• Water Flosser: Uses a stream of water to help wash away food particles and loosely attached plaque from between teeth and around braces
• Floss Threader: A tool that helps guide dental floss behind the wires of braces, making it easier to clean between teeth

How Often Should You Brush

Brush your teeth after every meal and before bed because it removes food particles and plaque that can accumulate throughout the day. If brushing after a meal is not possible, rinse your mouth with water, then brush at the first opportunity. Also, remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

What to Avoid

Besides all the things you should do when brushing with braces, there are also a few things you shouldn’t.

• Brushing Too Hard: It can damage your braces and irritate your gums, so use gentle strokes when brushing
• Rushing Your Brushing: Take your time when brushing to ensure all areas are cleaned properly
• Skipping Flossing: Flossing is an essential step in removing plaque and food particles between teeth and under wires
• Forgetting About the Actual Braces: Clean your brackets and wires, not just your teeth
• Neglecting Dental Checkups: Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar from all areas of your teeth and around braces. That’s why regular dental checkups with your dentist and dental hygienist are important, in addition to your scheduled appointments with your orthodontist.

Summary

Braces create tiny nooks and crannies where food particles and plaque can hide. If not cleaned properly, this can lead to cavities, gum issues, or even staining once your braces come off. So while brushing your teeth with braces may seem tricky, with the right techniques and tools, it can be manageable and effective.

It starts with choosing the right toothbrush, preferably one designed for braces, to reach around brackets and wires more effectively. An electric toothbrush is also a good choice. You should also floss daily using a floss threader or orthodontic floss to get under wires and between teeth.

Besides all the things you should do when brushing with braces, there are also a few things you shouldn’t, such as rushing your brushing, brushing too rough, or skipping flossing altogether.

The most important thing is to enhance the great habits you had before braces: Brush after every meal, floss once a day using orthodontic tools, and see your dentist or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleaning.

Braces: Support for Your Oral Health as You Straighten

Braces help straighten your smile and correct misalignment, but brackets and wires can also create new areas for plaque to hide—making your smile more vulnerable to staining, tooth decay, and gum disease. A thorough oral care routine can help keep your mouth healthy to ensure you get the most out of your treatment while preventing oral health issues down the road.

When wearing braces be sure to:

• Brush 2X/day with an Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush: It can be tough to clean around brackets and wires, allowing more opportunities for food particles and plaque to accumulate. Brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush to remove up to 100% more plaque than you would with a regular manual for healthier teeth and gums.
• Pair It with an Oral-B iO Gentle Care Replacement Brush Head: Braces can leave your smile feeling sore and sensitive. iO Gentle Care Brush Heads feature high-density dentist-inspired extra soft bristles in an optimized pattern to better adapt to teeth and gums while delivering a gentle clean.
• Protect Your Smile with Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste: Brush twice daily with a Crest stannous fluoride toothpaste to help prevent cavities, help reverse gingivitis (an early form of gum disease) and keep your smile strong and bright.
• Amp Up Your Flossing Routine with Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced: When paired with traditional string floss, a water flosser can help remove even more food debris and plaque from hard-to-reach areas to help boost your gum care. Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced features customizable intensities so you can more easily wash away leftover particles from brackets and wires with the
• Rinse with Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash: Round out your brushing and flossing routine with an antibacterial mouthwash to kill plaque bacteria, help prevent gingivitis, and support gum health.
• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Foods high in sugars can increase plaque buildup, especially when wearing braces. Opt for fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to help limit plaque bacteria and keep your smile healthy.
• Visit Your Dental Professional Regularly: Keep up regular with orthodontic visits to keep braces properly adjusted. Additionally, it’s important to go in for professional cleanings and checkups at least twice a year to better monitor your oral health.

Following a complete oral care routine while wearing braces can help keep your teeth and gums healthy, so when those brackets and wires do come off, you can confidently reveal your newly straightened, strong, bright smile.

FAQs

• How to brush with an electric toothbrush if you have braces? Use a 45-degree angle to the gumline and gently guide the brush head from tooth to tooth, pausing for a few seconds on each one. Focus on all surfaces: outside, inside, and chewing, as well as the areas above and below your brackets. Spend about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. When you’re finished, spit out the excess toothpaste but try not to rinse immediately, as this allows the fluoride to remain on your teeth longer.
• How do you clean between your teeth with braces? To effectively clean between your teeth with braces, you can use both interdental brushes and floss threaders. Interdental brushes help dislodge food and plaque from the spaces between your teeth. Floss threaders allow you to safely thread floss through the braces to clean around the brackets and wires.
• How to brush with an electric toothbrush if you have braces? Let the brush do the work. Use a 45-degree angle to the gumline and gently guide the brush head from tooth to tooth, pausing for a few seconds on each one. Focus on all surfaces: outside, inside, and chewing, as well as the areas above and below your brackets. Spend about 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth. When you’re finished, spit out the excess toothpaste but try not to rinse immediately, as this allows the fluoride to remain on your teeth longer.

Sources

• https://aaoinfo.org/blog/should-i-floss-or-brush-first
• https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/life-during-treatment/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/brushing-your-teeth/faq-20058193
• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/care-of-braces-retainers
• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/braces-and-retainers
• http://www.bracesguide.com/duringbraces/braces-pain-management.html
• https://www.verywell.com/braces-and-orthodontic-treatment-1059330
• https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/do-braces-hurt-your-comprehensive-guide-to-managing-orthodontic-pain/

He, T., et al. (2025). Randomized Controlled Trials Assessing Exposure Frequency Effects of Stannous Fluoride on Gingivitis. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 10(2), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.1177/23800844241263031

Klukowska, M., et al. (2011). Plaque levels of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances measured by digital plaque image analysis. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 139(5), e463–e470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2010.05.019

Van Elslande D. (2022). Use of an Oscillating-Rotating Electric Toothbrush and Novel Brush Head to Increase Brushing Motivation and Reduce Plaque Among Orthodontic Patients. Compendium of continuing education in dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995), 43(3), f14–f19.

Zou, Y., et al. (2024). A meta-analysis comparing toothbrush technologies on gingivitis and plaque. International Dental Journal

Table of Contents

• Guide to Brushing With Braces
• Additional Tools
• How Often Should You Brush
• What to Avoid
• Summary
• Braces: Support for Your Oral Health as You Straighten
• FAQs
• Sources

This blog has been reviewed and approved by Dr Robert Lee, a dental professional of 35 years

LEARN MORE >

Dr Robert Lee

Dr Robert Lee is a dentist with more than thirty years of experience in the industry.

Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Business Administration, Robert’s career has taken him all over the world – from Australia to Germany to his current position in Chicago, where he is the founder of Denticus Inc., offering strategic dental consulting.

Robert has previously worked for Procter & Gamble as the Director of Professional Scientific Relations in both the Cincinnati and Sydney offices, being responsible for external relations and scientific exchange with leading professional associations and industry thought leaders. He was also responsible for all technical and scientific training for the professional teams in North America and Australia.

You can find a list of some of the other blogs Robert has approved below:

SEE MORE

• Receding Gums: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
• What are Dental Caries? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Dental Scaling and Root Planing Explained
• Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
• Types of Gum Disease: Stages, Factors & Related Conditions
• Cavity Treatments: What are Ways to Treat Cavities?
• Tooth Plaque and Dental Tartar
• What is Periodontitis? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Tooth Decay and Cavities: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
• Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes, Remedies, and Treatments

SEE LESS

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