Is an electric toothbrush suitable for cleaning teeth with braces?

Wearing braces requires careful regular care. Lack of proper hygiene can lead to the development of tooth decay, gingivitis and other dental problems. Many people are interested in the question: is it possible to clean braces with an electric brush? We'll tell you in the article.

Do I need to brush my teeth with braces with a toothbrush?

The procedure for hygienic care of teeth with installed braces differs from traditional cleaning. A regular toothbrush is not enough to care for braces. In addition, you will need several special brushes, as well as superfloss, irrigator and rinses.

Whether you can clean your braces with a brush or not depends on what kind of brush you use. To care for orthodontic appliances and the oral cavity, you will need the following types of toothbrushes:

Regular with soft bristles.
Orthodontic with V-shaped cut in bristles.
Interdental (so-called brush).
Mono-tuft - a brush that has only one tuft of bristles.

The oral care procedure must be approached comprehensively and teeth should be brushed using all of the listed brushes.

Features of special brushes

How to clean braces quickly and efficiently? As you may have guessed, there is a difference between an ordinary everyday brush and a brush for braces, which helps remove food perfectly. The initial feature is the pile. It does not form a continuous surface. The villi themselves are arranged in a special V-shape. The bristles, which are located in the middle, are the smallest of all existing ones. Further on, the bristles become larger and larger, and the largest bristles on the brush are located at the edges.

If the brush is used correctly, the central row will be responsible for cleaning the clasps on the braces, and the remaining bristles will clean the rest of the tooth surface, including difficult areas. It is also worth paying attention to the material from which the pile is made, it is softer. This material is made specifically for delicate gums, because when wearing braces they are relaxed. Therefore, it is quite possible to achieve the maximum effect without causing harm.

Can I use an electric toothbrush?

Some patients clean them with an electric toothbrush after getting braces. There is a myth that this should not be done, because electric brushes can damage structural parts, as a result of which it will have to be replaced.

Dentists refute this opinion and say that brushing your teeth with an electric brush is acceptable. The main thing is to choose the right model, which is equipped with orthodontic attachments, and follow the doctor’s recommendations.

The use of electric toothbrushes in caring for braces is even preferable for a number of reasons. Such brushes remove plaque better because they automatically perform tens of times more cleaning movements than we can do with our hands.

Modern sonic and ultrasonic models clean not only through mechanical action, but also using sound waves and pulsations. Using electric brushes, you can remove plaque and dirt from under the gums, from between teeth and other hard-to-reach areas.

What types of brushes are there?

Toothbrushes for braces differ both in appearance and purpose, as well as in the type of design. The following types of products exist:

special orthodontic structures that differ in the type of arrangement of bristles;
electrical;
single-beam.

Orthodontic toothbrush for braces
Orthodontic models

An orthodontic toothbrush designed for braces has bristles that vary in height. Along the edges of the brush the bristles are of standard length, and towards the center they are shortened. This creates a V-shaped recess. Thanks to this relief, both the vestibular part and the lingual part of the tooth are cleaned. This eliminates the risk of breaking the locking mechanism. It is important to understand that the stiffness of the villi plays a fundamental role. This includes products from the company vitis.

mono-tuft toothbrush

Single-beam

The second name for this brush is mono-beam. The product looks like a stick with a head on which there is a thin tuft of bristles. The pile of the model is long, which allows you to reach hard-to-reach places. It is designed for detailed cleaning of the dentition and the space between braces, as well as when wearing crowns. In terms of functionality, a monotuft brush is similar to both a classic brush and a toothpick. For those with braces, preference should be given to designs with a cone-shaped pile.

Electric

Electric dental model is suitable for cleaning enamel and bracket systems. Due to its functionality, the product copes with both fresh plaque and hard deposits, without harming tooth enamel. If you have chosen an electric model, it is important to understand that for high-quality oral hygiene, you must first get used to the brush. Daily processing should not exceed 2 minutes. Please note that such a model does not require additional efforts from the outside. Otherwise, you will not only injure your gums, but also damage the structure. Gradually you will select a comfortable operating mode. This brush comes with instructions. Don’t skimp on an electric toothbrush: preference should be given to products from trusted brands. A high-quality model will be useful for adults and children. An ultrasonic brush is a type of electrical device. Reviews from dentists about it are some of the best.

Contraindications for using electric models:

thinning of tooth enamel and tooth defects;
increased sensitivity of teeth;
tendency to bleed;
periodontal disease and other pathologies;
children up to 3 years old.

Important! Regardless of the type of product and its cost, any brush needs to be replaced. Dentists recommend doing this at least once every 3 months. In addition, regularly treat the bristles of the product using special products.

What requirements must an electric brush for braces meet?

To ensure not only effective, but also gentle care of braces, the brush must meet a number of requirements.

Synthetic bristles.

It cleans well, but bacteria do not multiply in it as actively as in natural ones.

Small cleaning head.

It is advisable to choose models with a round head no larger than 1.3-1.6 cm. Such brushes will not damage fragile structural elements, and they better penetrate the distant teeth and other hard-to-reach places.

Soft bristles.

This will avoid damage to the structure.

Combination of technologies.

To care for braces, some dentists recommend choosing electric brushes that combine reciprocating and pulsating technologies. This provides better cleaning quality and allows you to remove the maximum amount of plaque in a shorter time.

Special orthodontic attachments.

Be sure to choose an electric brush with special attachments. For example, any Oral-B electric toothbrush comes with a set of Braun Oral-B Ortho Care Essentials orthodontic attachments. It has different attachments that are suitable for high-quality cleaning of teeth around the locks and in the spaces between teeth.

When buying an electric brush to care for braces, it is important to consider that the attachments will wear out faster than with standard cleaning, so they will have to be replaced more often.

Oral b braces brush: review and characteristics

There are a lot of toothbrushes available today. But the oral b braces brush has special differences from its analogues. Let's move directly to its characteristics:

It is necessary to note that this brush operates on batteries and is capable of cleaning the oral cavity itself, the most important thing is to direct it to the required place;
The number of rotations that this brush produces in one minute is 7600 revolutions. It is this fact that makes teeth cleaning incredibly effective;
This toothbrush is equipped with a special pressure sensor, which is necessary to prevent damage to tooth enamel and immediate gums;
Using the timer built into the brush, brushing your mouth will take about two minutes. Experts advise spending at least 30 seconds on every fourth part of your mouth;
The battery lasts 30 minutes. For toothbrushes, this is a fairly large battery;
It will take about 16 hours to charge this battery.

This toothbrush comes with three different attachments:

Ordinary tooth attachment;
Interdental attachment;
And an attachment for braces.

And the next type of Oral B brushes for braces that we will consider is called “Oral B Interdental”. This brush is not electric, but works solely according to your efforts. The brush is intended exclusively for braces. Let's look at its immediate characteristics:

The brush is designed for cleaning bridge type braces;
The set includes two brushes that can be changed. One brush has the shape of a cylinder, and the second - a cone;
This brush also involves the use of foam brushes. These brushes are intended for mouth care after surgery;
With the help of such a brush, it will be extremely easy to clean even the most difficult places in your mouth;
Changing brushes is not only convenient, but also quick;
The tilt of the head that cleans can be adjusted independently.

Is it possible to clean braces and teeth with an ultrasonic brush?

Manufacturers of some ultrasonic brushes say that this is the optimal and gentle option for caring for braces. For example, the Emmi-Dent 6 Platinum Carbon ultrasonic electric brush, according to the manufacturer, provides gentle and high-quality care for any dental structures. Cleaning is carried out using ultrasound, which carefully removes plaque, prevents the formation of tartar, has an antimicrobial effect, and also has a beneficial effect on the gums and soft tissues. Due to ultrasonic cleaning, the electric brush does not have a strong mechanical effect on teeth and braces, does not injure the gums and does not damage the details of the orthodontic structure.

The Emmi-Dent ultrasonic brush operates on safe ultrasound with a frequency of 96 million pulsations per minute, it is made using patented technology, and its use is recommended by the Russian Dental Association. This brush comes with a special toothpaste without scratching abrasive particles. When the paste interacts with ultrasound, nano-sized bubbles are formed. They damage the shell of microbes and ensure cleaning of teeth in microcracks, near the clasps of the brace system, in periodontal pockets and other hard-to-reach areas.

Please note that not all dentists share the opinion of the manufacturers of ultrasonic brushes that they are ideal for caring for braces. Some doctors are of the opposite opinion and are convinced that ultrasound can harm the orthodontic structure. Therefore, it is important to discuss the choice of an electric brush for cleaning braces in advance with the doctor who will install the braces.

Requirements for hygienic devices for braces

Not every product is suitable for caring for braces. Strict requirements are put forward for devices in this category. These include:

the composition of the pile must be exclusively synthetic;
cleaning head size - for children the size should not exceed 20 mm, and for adults 25 mm;
type of bristles - medium-hard bristles are suitable for cleaning braces, since soft bristles do not remove deposits, and excessively hard bristles damage the structure.

In addition to a toothbrush, the required attributes for caring for orthodontic structures are:

brushes for cleaning the spaces between the system and the enamel;
dental floss to access the interdental space. It increases the effectiveness of overall care;
a gum rinse that allows you to remove food debris and soft plaque.

Reviews from many users indicate that a toothbrush for braces is necessary, since thorough oral hygiene is impossible without it.

Is an electric brush enough?

Even the most modern and high-quality toothbrush is not enough to fully care for the oral cavity of a person who wears braces. To maintain dental health, comprehensive hygiene is important, which, in addition to brushing with special toothbrushes, includes the use of superfloss, irrigator and mouth rinses:

Superfloss is a dental floss specially designed for orthodontic patients. It is more convenient to insert it into the interdental spaces compared to regular floss, and it also allows you to efficiently clean the surface of the tooth around the lock.
Every person who wears dental appliances needs an irrigator. This device improves the quality of oral hygiene several times and reduces the risk of caries and other diseases. The irrigator directs a powerful stream of water, which removes dirt and plaque from under the edge of the gum, from interdental spaces and other areas that could not be cleaned by other means.
Rinse aid. This product not only washes away the remaining plaque and dirt, but also has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. You should choose a mouthwash as prescribed by your doctor.

Why additional equipment is needed

It is after the braces have been installed that areas appear on the teeth that are simply impossible to clean with an ordinary toothbrush, because it cannot even reach those places. If action is not taken in time, food that is retained will form harmful bacteria in the oral cavity. An ordinary brush can even cause harm, because both the tooth pulp and the gums are very vulnerable when wearing braces.

It must be remembered that hygiene is the most important thing in the prevention of many diseases that arise in the oral cavity. From this it turns out that it is necessary to carry out ideal teeth cleaning.

How to care for her?

In order for such an important device to serve you for many years, helping to clean the oral cavity efficiently and effectively, pay attention to the tips below:

Nozzles are subject to periodic treatment with an antiseptic and replacement.
It is necessary to constantly rinse brushes/nozzles with running water before/after hygiene procedures. Leftover food left on the villi can cause the spread of bacteria and microorganisms.
The device should be stored in an upright position, the brushes should be stored in empty, dry glasses or stands.
The nozzles are subject to periodic treatment with an antiseptic (once a week) and replacement (every three to four months).
After hygiene procedures, check the charge level of the brush to avoid draining the battery.

Nozzles for children

These attachments are suitable for both children's series of electric brushes and adults. The only difference is in the illustrations with characters from children’s favorite cartoons. Of course, funny images will help children quickly learn proper and regular oral hygiene. This rating includes children's brush heads for Oral-B:

Stages Kids Cars

A special children's series of professional heads for electric toothbrushes is designed to instill proper step-by-step oral hygiene. Animations on the handle of the nozzle, in this case images of cars from the popular “Cars”, will make the baby run to the bathroom with pleasure. Discoloration of the bristles of the nozzle indicates the need to change to a new one. The special shape allows you to clean even the most difficult to reach places.

Characteristic	Meaning
Form	Round
Compatible with electric brushes	Stages Power

pros

extra soft bristles;
certified products;
meets high European standards;
removes plaque and cleans gums;
as safe as possible.

Minuses

replacement every 2-3 months;
For braces you will need to buy a different attachment.

Review: “My son uses it, he really, really likes it!”

Stages Kids Princess

The children's series of attachments features images of princesses from your favorite Disney cartoons. Thorough cleaning of teeth and gums is ensured by very soft bristles of different lengths. The nozzle is intended for children from three to six years old. The wear indicator will help you change the nozzle to a new one in time, without reducing the effectiveness of the procedures. The need for replacement is indicated by a change in the color of the bristles.

Characteristic	Meaning
Form	Round with bristles of different lengths
Compatible with electric brushes	Stages Power Series

pros

robust design;
high-quality plastic;
tight connection;
maximum safety of the teeth cleaning procedure;
illustrations with your favorite characters.

Minuses

difficult to find in stock;
sets of 2 pieces only.

Review: “Two in one, because the child now rushes to the bathroom himself in the morning and evening to brush his teeth. No reminders. That is, both benefit and pleasure! The new Oral-B Kids Princess brush makes her feel more grown-up. After all, now, like mom and dad, he has his own brush. And replaceable heads allow you to extend the life of his favorite brush. Moreover, they are so cheerful and funny. Just super!”

Stages Kids Avengers

The Oral-B electric toothbrush head from the children's series for boys with the image of the Avengers will delight your child every day. Soft bristles gently clean the surface of the teeth, covering all hard-to-reach places and gums. The nozzle is firmly attached to the handle, and the replacement process is simple and quick. A specially designed structure taking into account the structure of the children's oral cavity takes into account all its anatomical features.

Characteristic	Meaning
Form	Round
Compatible with electric brushes	Stages Power

pros

Beautiful design;
effective cleansing;
ideal for daily use;
does not scratch enamel;
safe composition.

Minuses

brush your teeth only under parental supervision;
considerable cost.

Review: “Oral-B's children's brush heads are very soft and have slightly shorter bristles than adults' brush heads. It’s convenient that the nozzle is also suitable for an adult brush.”

Stages Kids Frozen

Specially designed attachments for children's oral care are illustrated with characters from the popular cartoon "Frozen". Favorite characters make brushing your teeth a fun experience, introducing kids to daily dental hygiene. The extra-soft bristles do not injure the oral mucosa at all and do not damage the enamel. Short fibers remove plaque, while longer ones clean the chewing surface well.

Characteristic	Meaning
Form	Round
Compatible with electric brushes	Oral-B Stages Power

pros

attractive design;
interests the baby;
provides gentle care;
effectively copes with dental plaque;
optimal handle length.

Minuses

you need to monitor the condition of the bristles; replacement may be necessary before 3 months;
not a small price.

Review: “The Oral-B Kids Frozen toothbrush removes plaque from teeth very well without damaging the child’s gums. It is very soft and easy to use! I didn’t regret buying these brushes for my kids and I recommend them to you!”

Comparison table of characteristics

For a quick analysis of the presented products, the main characteristics are collected in a table:

The product's name	Nozzle shape	Compatible with electric toothbrushes
Sensi Ultrathin	Round petal-shaped	Oral-B Genius, Pro, Smart and Vitality
CrossAction	Round	Triumph, Smart, PRO, Vitality, Genius
3D White	Round with rubberized bowl	All except Pulsonic
Precision Clea	Round in the center with a recess	All except Pulsonic
Sensitive	Round	All
TriZone	Elongated, oval	All except Pulsonic/Sonic
Stages Kids Cars	Round	Stages Power
Stages Kids Princess	Round with bristles of different lengths	Stages Power
Stages Kids Avengers	Round	Stages Power
Stages Kids Frozen	Round	Oral-B Stages Power

When choosing a new head for your Oral-B electric toothbrush, you should consider the impact and desired effect, as well as the level of stiffness of the bristles. All attachments with reciprocating technology are suitable for any brushes of this brand (except for one series). And this top with pros and cons, customer reviews and recommendations from professionals will help you make the right choice.

Types of Oral-B brush heads

All presented attachments are guaranteed to fit the replacement handles of electric toothbrushes. They have rounded bristles at the ends for gentle cleansing. The signal to replace the old attachment with a new one is the fading of the color of the indicator bristles.

Depending on the required result and functionality, replacement heads for the Oral-B toothbrush are:

for gentle cleaning – suitable for people with sensitive gums;
special models for more thorough cleaning - the bristles are located at a certain angle for effective cleaning of plaque;
for deep cleaning – cover the maximum surface;
polishing – in the center of the nozzle there is a special block for polishing;
for cleaning the interdental space - to some extent replaces dental floss, effectively cleaning hard-to-reach places;
children's - designed taking into account the characteristics of the oral cavity in children.

Proper cleaning of braces: step-by-step instructions

Some patients mistakenly believe that after installing braces it is not necessary to purchase additional hygiene products and tools. They believe that the desired effect can be achieved with the help of an ordinary toothbrush, but experts have a different opinion on this matter.

Important! Research results1 and the practical experience of dentists confirm the fact that a low level of oral hygiene while wearing braces doubles the risk of developing caries.

In the vast majority of cases, caries forms in the immediate vicinity of the plates, that is, in those places that are most difficult to clean, especially with a regular toothbrush. In addition, patients who neglect hygiene during treatment experience pronounced yellowing of the enamel after removing the braces.

Caries after braces

So, all brushes designed to maintain hygiene while using an orthodontic structure are divided into several main types:

V-neck model: A brush for braces that has shorter bristles in the center. If you look at the head from the end, you can see hairs that resemble the shape of the Latin letter “V”. Experts say that such a medium makes it possible to most effectively clean the surface of tooth enamel and plates from contaminants,
special brush: this tool can have different lengths, diameters and degrees of rigidity. It is better to choose a brush together with the treating orthodontist, who, if necessary, can take additional measurements,

mono-tuft brush: a product with one tuft of bristles, which allows for thorough cleaning of surfaces that are inaccessible to a regular brush. The product can be characterized by different hardness, so before purchasing it, again, it would be a good idea to consult with your orthodontist.

Read about how to properly clean braces in our special article {amp}gt;{amp}gt;{amp}gt;

While wearing braces, it is necessary not only to use special additional devices to clean them, but also to carry out this procedure using certain rules:

The cleaning procedure begins with the use of an orthodontic brush with V-shaped bristles.
The paste is applied to dry bristles, then with a horizontal movement they begin to brush the front teeth, gradually moving to the lateral sections of the row.
After this, sweeping movements are made, directing the brush from the gum line to the cutting edge.
Next, use a mono-beam brush. It is used to clean the locking mechanism and the surface of each bracket. Next they move on to the interdental space and the chewing surface of the molars.
Then, brushes are used, which are passed under the arch and, by rotating, clean the vestibular surface of the enamel, the orthodontic arch and the area where the bracket adheres to the tooth. In this case, it is recommended to perform a reciprocating movement vertically.
Finally, clean the lingual and chewing surfaces using a classic brush.
It is recommended to finish the procedure with the use of a special teeth rinse.

Hygienic devices are classified depending on the shape of the head and purpose:

Orthodontic – professional (basic) brush with V-shaped bristles. The villi located in the center of the working surface of the head are shorter than the outer ones. This feature of the device contributes to better cleaning of the enamel tooth surface and hard-to-reach areas of braces.
Single-bundle - is a convenient device with a curved handle and a small head with a bundle of fibers. A small brush is an additional care product - it can perfectly remove plaque and deposits from under the grooves of the bite correction system.
A brush is an interdental structure with a wire base, around which small tufts of bristles are arranged in a spiral. The diameter of the cleaning area of the brush narrows at the top. The device is designed for the hygiene of interdental spaces, as well as the gaps between the lock and the wire arch of brackets.

Single-bundle Orthodontic

Ershik

A person who decides to correct a bite is, of course, concerned about the question of how to clean braces with a brush. After all, oral health depends on it.

To properly care for the system, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

To clean plaque, spend 7-10 seconds on each tooth, making horizontal and vertical (sweeping) movements with an orthodontic (main) brush.
For the interdental spaces, the area under and around the brackets, a special brush is used, which is used to perform reciprocating/rotational movements. After treatment, the device is washed with running water.
For the system of correcting bites and gaps between braces/teeth, use a single-tuft brush.
The brush is held at an angle, and the hygienic procedure is carried out as carefully as possible, without strong pressure (to avoid damage to the gum tissue).
The upper/lower jaw are processed separately, the teeth are processed from the outside and inside.

Important: clean your mouth after meals and snacks, at least rinse with salted water or special products. Otherwise, after removing the braces, you will find unpleasant streaks/stains on your teeth.

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning braces with a toothbrush