If you have braces or clear aligners, should you continue visiting your dentist every 6 months for professional cleanings? Can your dentist even clean your teeth with braces on?
Spoiler alert—YES it’s actually essential that you still visit your dentist throughout your orthodontic treatment!
Here’s everything you need to know:
Before you begin treatment
Before you begin treatment, it’s important that you receive a professional cleaning from your dentist at least 6 months prior to your orthodontic exam. We want to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and ready to support your new smile!
Throughout your orthodontic treatment with any type of braces or clear aligners, you should visit your dentist every six months for professional cleanings. Your regular orthodontic check-ins and your regular dental cleanings are both essential for creating the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.
Can you get your teeth cleaned with braces on?
Yes! 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 just like you who’ve undergone orthodontic treatment. 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 with clear aligners
Dental cleanings are a bit easier with clear aligners; simply remove your aligners for your regular cleanings, then pop them back in after. There won’t be any brackets or wires for your dentist to work around! You may have attachments or buttons with clear aligners, but these won’t be an issue 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 clear aligners is no different than cleaning your teeth without clear aligners. 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 clear aligners?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We’re here to guide you through orthodontic treatment and ensure that you achieve beautiful, lifelong results. If you’re looking for advice – or just want to chat about your child’s treatment – we’re here for you.
Dr. Lu and our experienced team will help you make the best choice for your smile on your first visit.
Ready to get started? Book a complimentary consultation with our experienced orthodontist in Alexandria today!
