Thanksgiving is now over, so here comes the Christmas holiday festivities! That clearly means another big feast and all those yummy Christmas treats!

The holidays are such an amazing time of the year where we get to come together and bring in that holiday cheer. But with all these delicious encounters, our patients with braces must be even more careful about their teeth home care. This can include drinking sugary beverages like hot chocolate or even sweets like candy canes. 

Let’s go over the most proper and effective ways to clean your braces:

• Cleaning the top part of your teeth, between your brackets, and gums are essential. To properly clean the enamel, toothbrush bristles must touch the gums, but not too hard. You should brush with softer bristles to avoid irritating them and direct the brush at an angle toward the gums.
• Brush frequently because brace wires catch food debris, and in doing so it will help prevent plaque. If you don’t have a toothbrush on hand when you are out, you can always rinse with water thoroughly until you get home. An exception is brushing after eating acidic foods. You should wait 30 minutes to an hour before brushing after eating foods like oranges or sports drinks because doing so can soften tooth enamel.
• Try to start brushing your teeth with only a wet toothbrush. It will allow you to clean around the brackets and between wires. Then, add a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and continue cleaning.
• One of the challenges we found with some patients has been flossing. Tying floss to a threader will make it easier to guide it through the wire. Use a saw-like motion to eliminate more plaque. Purchasing a waterpik water flosser is another option as well. It cleanses with a stream of water and is a quick, easy way to floss.
• In addition to brushing and flossing, rinse with an anti-cavity, fluoride mouthwash that will reduce tooth decay and protect enamel. Rinsing for one minute will help get rid of any remaining debris.