Which Toothbrush is Best for Braces?

Braces are a proven orthodontic treatment to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, straighten the crooked teeth or just maintain an awe striking facial profile. If you wear braces, you’ll be relating to maybe one or the other reason mentioned here.

Whatever your reason is, keeping the teeth clean (after braces) is more important than ever. But, you might not know where to begin and which dental hygiene tool to use. So we thought we should help..

We’ll tell you what kind of toothbrush is best for braces in this blog and tell you some tips to take care of your teeth while in braces.

What Kind of Toothbrush is Best For Braces?

The right toothbrush for braces should have soft bristles so it doesn’t irritate your teeth or gums. A slim head and body is also essential so the cleaning toothbrush can reach into the wires, brackets and bring out food particles or plaque stuck there.

Taking care of your teeth with braces is important. Not doing so can cause some serious dental hygiene problems. Your braces can get gunk-up with plaque accumulation. Resultantly, you’ll have bad breath, yellow teeth and in the worst-case scenario, cavities or gingivitis. This is why using the right toothbrush will help big time.

There’s no restriction on what kind of toothbrush you use for braces. What matters is how favourable it is going to be for you. You can use manual and electric toothbrushes by focusing on their features and functionality.

Qualities of a Good Braces Toothbrush

If you are in search of a good quality toothbrush; you need to checklist listed features and benefits. A good toothbrush for braces has the following qualities:

● Soft Bristles:

Soft bristles will protect the enamel of your teeth from the root surface and can easily go too hard to reach areas; soft braces can reach into the depths, soft bristles remove debris and plaque more efficiently. Toothbrush with soft bristles works best for sensitive teeth and gums.

An ordinary toothbrush contains 2,500 bristles. 

● Size of the Head:

The size of your toothbrush head matters; small head brushes are ideal because they easily go at each corner of teeth’ sides and backs. Thus, investing in a small-headed brush is a wise idea.

● Handle:

A toothbrush with a long handle always works best; they are comfortable to hold. A toothbrush grip has an impact on effective brushing. If the handle is comfortable in your hand, your ability to clean your teeth will automatically improve.Typically a standard toothbrush head size should be a half inch wide and one inch tall.

● Rotating Head

Rotating feature is for electric toothbrushes.Some toothbrushes are also clinically proven as oscillators, pulsaters and rotators that offer you a 3D clean with 800 movements per second. They have distinctive functions from a manual one.

Electric rotating toothbrushes pulsate to get rid of the plaque and then oscillates and rotates to scrub the plaque away. According to a Cochrane study, an electric toothbrush could be 11% more effective in terms of plaque removal.

Should I Use Manual or Electric Toothbrush for Braces?

There’s a myth that only electric toothbrushes are effective when it comes to cleaning braces. Many studies like one from BMC oral health says both electric and manual toothbrushes are equally helpful.

Yet, there are some brands like Colgate, Oral B, and Platypus that are changing the narrative by offering top-notch manual toothbrushes.

Teeth with braces need extra cleaning. Most people don’t take it seriously and use normal toothbrushes for regular dental hygiene. So if you are somebody who has braces, you can opt for either of the toothbrushes discussed below and see what works best for you.

Manual Toothbrush for Braces

These manual toothbrushes have ideal qualities for people with braces.

1. Colgate Slim Soft Gliding Tips Toothbrush

Features:

The toothbrush has 48% percent softer bristles than ordinary toothbrushes.

This makes it an ideal product for braces because The toothbrush also has tongue and cheek cleaners to promote overall dental health minimising bad odour and cavities.

2. Oral-B Ortho Soft Cleans Around Braces Toothbrush

Features

Oral-B Ortho Soft Cleans around Braces Toothbrush has a V-shaped soft bristles head that goes into the nooks and crevices of bracelled teeth. The toothbrush is specifically made for orthodontic tools like braces. It has a long neck and an ortho head to facilitate proper cleaning.  

3. Platypus Orthodontic Toothbrush for Braces

Features

One thing that makes Platypus different from other toothbrushes is how its bristles are arranged. On the outer layer, the bristles are longer and are shorter on the inner layer. This way, they can easily glide over the brush over your teeth and in-between the brackets and wires.

Electric Toothbrush

1. Oral-B 7000

Features

Oral-B 7000 is a rechargeable device with a real-time habit or pressure tracker. The product supports your oral hygiene journey with braces.

2. Philips Sonicare HX6731/02

Features

Philips Sonicare HX6731/02 is apparently the most used electric toothbrush. It has different modes like Clean, sensitive and white which you can use as you like. Each mode stands for its literal meaning and offers exactly what one expects. The toothbrush is also a timer to stop you from over brushing.

3. TePe Angled Soft Bristle Toothbrush

Features

TePe angled soft bristle electric toothbrush with an angled head that gives you the convenience of cleaning your mouth even in the corners and depths of the mouth. The long neck, small round head, and soft silicone bristles give your braces a premium clean. The toothbrush is made from ABS plastic so it’s also safe and strong.

Takeaway

According to the American dental association, toothbrushes should be replaced after every three to four months. But with braces, you’ll have to change the toothbrush more often.

To conclude, remember not to eat high acid foods (tomatoes and soft drinks) that can make your enamel erode, which is not so good if you wear braces. Instead, try incorporating healthy, low acidic foods (cucumbers and bananas, for instance).

Also, you can share the hygiene tips that you practice in the comments so other people can benefit from tried and true ways.