Getting a Dental Cleaning with Braces

by | Oct 3, 2022 | Dental Hygiene

Proper dental care is important to keep your smile bright and healthy. You may have heard how important it is to get your teeth cleaned, but is getting a dental cleaning with braces possible? Here’s what you need to know.

Can You Get a Dental Cleaning with Braces?

Getting a dental cleaning with braces is not only possible, it’s necessary! But, how does it work? Won’t the wires and brackets get in the way? Do they need to be removed and reinstalled? These are all great questions that a lot of our patients ask!

When your dental hygienist cleans your teeth and you have braces, they might remove the wires and bands from your braces — just like when your orthodontist does an adjustment — and then your dentist or orthodontist will replace them after the cleaning. This will make it easier for them to clean around your braces to ensure that every surface, nook, and cranny gets sparkling clean! Your braces brackets should stay fixed firmly in place, just like during a routine adjustment! Easy-peasy!

Why Are Dental Cleanings Important?

You may have wondered, why is getting a dental cleaning with braces necessary? Can’t you just wait until you get your braces off? That’s a good question, too!

Braces treatment typically lasts at least a year while dental cleanings are recommended every 6 months for patients with a healthy smile (more often if you have a history of dental health issues). Food debris and plaque can build up quickly and waiting to get a dental cleaning can put your smile at risk of cavities, gum disease, staining, and other problems.

Caring for Your New Smile

Getting a dental cleaning with braces is important, but it’s also important to remember to take good care of your teeth at home every day! Your braces can add a lot of extra hard-to-reach areas to the surfaces of your teeth, so it’s important to make sure that you brush after each meal or 3 times a day and floss daily to keep your smile clean and healthy.

If taking care of your new braces feels overwhelming at first, don’t worry! It’ll get easier the more you practice! Ask your orthodontist at your next appointment for tips and tools that can make things easier, such as a floss pick and threader and an electric toothbrush. Your orthodontist will be happy to help so that you can ensure that your new smile shines its brightes!

Call our El Paso Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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