When you're preparing to have braces, you probably have a million questions. One of the most common is: Do they clean your teeth before braces, and is it a big deal? If you're thinking it's just another part of the process you can skip or do without, think again. Getting your teeth cleaned before braces is an important step—not just for the appearance of your smile but for the health of your gums and teeth.
The last thing you want to do is go ahead with braces while hiding bacteria, plaque, or uncured cavities that can become bigger problems down the line. This isn't about getting a "clean" smile for the orthodontist's office; it's about setting the stage for healthy teeth that will thrive throughout the course of your treatment.
In this article, we'll discuss why you need to clean your teeth before getting braces, what happens when you get this done, and how it really impacts the effectiveness of your braces.
Why Do They Clean Your Teeth Before Braces?
You might ask, why exactly do you need to clean your teeth before braces? It's your oral health, that's all. When you wear braces, the last thing you would want is to have plaque and tartar building up under all those brackets and wires.
All that buildup might harbour bacteria and lead to gum disease cavities or even disrupt your orthodontic treatment. You could imagine risking having dental problems as time goes on because you failed to brush your teeth before getting braces.
Cleaning is not cosmetic; it's making sure your teeth are in the best condition they can be for the journey to come. If you already have any pre-existing dental problems, such as cavities or gum infections, those must be taken care of first. For more details on how to protect your gums, check out this guide on receding gums.
Braces shift your teeth, and that requires a good, healthy foundation. If bacteria are left behind or infections are not taken care of, they will disrupt the way your teeth shift, leading to longer treatment times or additional dental work in the future.
If you get your teeth cleaned regularly while you're wearing braces, you're setting yourself up for better long-term results with your braces. Cleaning will remove plaque, bacteria, and tartar so that you can more easily monitor your oral health while you're going through it. This prevents cavities and gum disease, both of which could derail your treatment or cause unnecessary discomfort and pain. You may also want to read about how to prevent cavities to maintain good oral hygiene.
What Happens When You Get Your Teeth Cleaned Before Braces?
Before braces are applied, professional cleaning is more than a rushed brush. It's a thorough process designed to make sure your gums and teeth are clear of plaque and tartar, as well as any bacteria that might interfere with your orthodontic treatment.
When you go to your orthodontist or dentist for this pre-brace cleaning, the first thing they will do is examine your teeth and gums carefully to look for any issues.
Your teeth will be cleaned professionally by your dentist, usually scaling and polishing. Scaling is used to remove plaque and tartar that has accumulated on the surface of your teeth and beneath your gumline. This is so because tartar cannot be removed by brushing and needs professional cleaning. Your teeth will then be polished to clear out any remaining plaque, making your teeth smooth and plaque-free.
In some cases, your dentist will also be using X-rays or other imaging equipment to examine the overall health of your gums and teeth. The images help identify issues that are not easily visible to the naked eye, such as cavities or infections beneath the surface. If you’re curious about how dental exams work, check out this article on dental check-ups.
If your dentist detects any problems in your gums or teeth, such as a cavity or gum disease, you will be asked to fix them first before you can proceed with getting braces.
Does Cleaning Teeth Before Braces Affect the Effectiveness of the Braces?
You might not realize it, but cleaning your teeth before getting braces actually has an effect on how well your braces will function. If you don't brush away plaque or tartar from your teeth prior to applying your braces, it will hinder your braces from sticking to the surface of your teeth. In the worst case, the buildup will affect how your teeth shift and come together, causing extended treatment or sub-optimal results.
The health of your gums also has a significant impact on the success of your braces. Healthy gums create a solid foundation for your teeth, allowing your teeth to move effectively and efficiently throughout treatment. If your gums are inflamed from untreated plaque or gingivitis, they can complicate the process of moving your teeth, sometimes causing pain or even slow treatment. For more info on gum health, take a look at this post on gum disease prevention.
Also, getting your teeth cleaned prior to braces will enable you to improve your oral hygiene while wearing braces. Brushing and flossing are more difficult when wearing braces, so it is all the more reason to start off with a clean, healthy mouth. If you do not get your teeth thoroughly cleaned prior to braces being installed, then there is a greater risk of developing cavities or gum issues, and that will create additional complications and a longer process.
In short, cleaning your teeth prior to braces is not so much about having your teeth look good for the orthodontist but about your braces functioning at their best, treatment proceeding smoothly, and your dental health being in top condition.
What to Do If You Have Cavities or Gum Problems Before Braces?
If your dentist or orthodontist diagnoses cavities or gum issues before you get your braces, then these have to be addressed before you can move forward with the orthodontic procedure.
Cavities have to be filled in order to prevent decay beneath the braces. Cavities, if they are not dealt with, will grow into worse problems, including infection or abscesses, that will delay your treatment as well as impact your oral health.
Similarly, if you have gum disease, you will have to treat it before you receive the braces. Gum disease has been found to cause inflammation, bleeding, and bone loss around the teeth, all of which will make the movement of the teeth under the braces treatment more complicated. Your orthodontist would likely recommend you treat your gums so that they will be healthy before you receive the braces.
It is important to listen to your dentist and do whatever it takes to take care of dental problems prior to having braces. If you have a cavity or gum disease, waiting until these problems are taken care of will benefit you in the long run and save you hassle and time. Having healthy gums and teeth prior to braces will make your orthodontic process go as smoothly as possible and have long-lasting outcomes.
How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth When You Have Braces?
Once you have your braces on, it's important to keep a good oral hygiene routine so that your teeth are healthy. Braces have a lot of nooks and crannies where food particles and plaque get caught very easily, so you'll have to brush your teeth at least twice a day. You'll also have to floss, but with braces, it can be a little more tricky. Special tools such as flossers or interdental brushes will make flossing easier and more convenient.
Apart from brushing and flossing, you can also add mouthwash to your routine in an attempt to flush out the bacteria that the brushing cannot. Others also utilize the services of water flossers, which can be especially helpful in flushing out debris around wires and brackets.
You must maintain good oral hygiene when you have braces since this will prevent plaque from forming and reduce the risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
The Bottom Line
Maintaining your teeth as clean as you can before and while wearing braces is the key to achieving the best possible results with your orthodontic treatment. That is where Oclean's X Pro Sonic Toothbrush enters the picture.
With its advanced sonic cleaning technology, the X Pro Sonic Toothbrush can assist you in achieving the highest degree of oral hygiene, even with braces. The toothbrush's advanced features leave your teeth and mouth thoroughly clean, totally removing plaque and bacteria in the tight spaces between your brackets and wires.
By cleaning your teeth before braces, you'll be investing wisely in a healthy and clean mouth during your entire braces treatment so that your teeth move as they should and your smile is as healthy and radiant as it can be when your braces come off. Don't let bad hygiene hold you back from your orthodontic progress—select Oclean for the cleanest, most efficient brushing experience.
