540.443.9285 
You’re on your way to a straighter, healthier, more beautiful smile. Your braces have been placed and your orthodontic treatment is underway. You may be aware that cleaning your teeth while wearing braces can be difficult. Dr. DoBin Choi and our team are more than happy to give you tips on proper dental hygiene with braces.
Brushing Teeth
Brush your teeth twice each day, for at least two minutes each time. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. Be sure to remove any elastics before you brush your teeth. While holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the gumline, brush back and forth and then brush toward the biting surface of the teeth. Take care to brush the top and bottom of each bracket as well as the front of the brackets and wires. You may find it helpful to hold back your lip with one hand while you brush your brackets. Be sure to brush the chewing surfaces of each tooth as well as the backs of the teeth.
Flossing
It is important that you floss your teeth at least once every day. Flossing while wearing braces can prove to be challenging. We recommend using a floss threader to aid you in properly cleaning between your teeth. Floss threaders can help you get the dental floss beneath or over the wires so that you can clean your teeth of plaque and food particles. Make sure that your flossing regimen includes beneath the gumline.
We invite you to contact Real Life Ortho at 540-443-9285 today for more information about braces in Blacksburg, Virginia, and to set up a visit with our orthodontist. We are happy to give you additional tips and to help you reach a straighter smile.