Your dentist can’t take the place of your orthodontist, and your orthodontist can’t take the place of your dentist!
Throughout your orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign®, it’s important that you visit your dentist every six months for professional cleanings. Your regular orthodontic check-ins and your regular dental cleanings are both essential for a beautiful smile.
Can you get your teeth cleaned with braces on?
Of course. Your orthodontic treatment shouldn’t impact your dental health. Your regular cleanings are as important as ever. Even with braces, plaque and tartar are still building up. In fact, brackets and wires provide even more places for plaque and tartar to accumulate!
Your dentist has taken care of plenty of other patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, just like you. Dentists are prepared for this! They have special dental tools that work around brackets to remove hardened plaque on your brackets and on your teeth, around your brackets.
They know how to floss between your teeth and archwires effectively, without damaging your appliances. In some cases, we may temporarily remove your archwires if your dentist needs to reach a certain area.
Teeth cleaning with braces will take a little longer than when you didn’t have braces, but it’s important that your dentist has time to clean your teeth thoroughly.
Can you get X-rays with braces?
Yes you can! You should have X-rays taken regularly, as advised by your dentist. Although your braces are made of metal brackets and wires, they’re safe to undergo X-rays.
Routine X-rays are important for detecting tooth decay (cavities) that may not be apparent at first glance.
Teeth Cleaning After Braces
As soon as your braces are removed is the perfect time to get another dental cleaning! If you wore traditional metal braces, ceramic braces or advanced LightForce braces bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth, you may notice some discolored spots on your teeth when your braces are removed. This is totally normal and a professional dental cleaning should take care of this.
You can also whiten your teeth once your braces are removed to eliminate these spots!
Teeth Cleaning with Invisalign
Dental cleanings are a bit easier with Invisalign. That’s because you get to remove your clear aligners for your regular dental cleanings. There won’t be any brackets or wires for your dentist to work around!
Although cleaning braces will require some additional care (because food particles can get trapped between your brackets and wires), cleaning your teeth with Invisalign is no different than cleaning your teeth without Invisalign. You’ll remove your clear aligners to brush your teeth, floss your teeth and eat food, so you won’t have to make many adjustments to your oral care routine.
Have questions about dental cleaning with braces or Invisalign?
We’re here to answer all of your questions! Knowing how to clean your teeth with braces and knowing what to expect during your regular teeth cleanings with braces will help you to achieve the best possible results from your treatment.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment.
If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Johnson City, we’d love to meet you! Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.
