How to Brush and Manage Oral Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment

Hello. I am Joon Jungwon, Chief Director of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong.

Many patients often ask how to brush after braces are attached. In particular, because Daechi-dong has many student patients, parents are especially interested in how to manage their children's oral hygiene.

In fact, it is not easy for children to brush thoroughly even in everyday life, and because they often eat foods that can easily cause cavities, such as drinks and snacks, they need to pay special attention to brushing after braces are attached.

Also, in cases where orthodontic treatment is done after tooth extraction, as treatment progresses and the extraction space closes, food can get stuck between those teeth. If that area is not kept clean, it can interfere with the closing of the extraction space, so proper care is needed.

• Roll method

• With your teeth closed or slightly open, position the toothbrush starting at the area where the teeth and gums meet, then use a wrist snap to rotate it in a circular motion while brushing. This is the most commonly known method.

• For the lower teeth, brush from bottom to top; for the upper teeth, brush from top to bottom. Tilt the bristles at about a 45-degree angle, then rotate and brush.

• It is good to cover 2–3 teeth at a time with one toothbrush, based on an adult standard, and move to the next teeth after about five rotations.

• Point: Draw circles!

https://images.app.goo.gl/NYtmRsuBJixaVBEd9

• For the inside of the front teeth, brush with the toothbrush held vertically. The inner side of the lower molars and the outer side of the upper molars are areas the toothbrush does not easily reach, so you should be especially careful when brushing there. Brush the chewing surfaces of the molars by moving the toothbrush back and forth, and finally brush the tongue by sweeping from the inside to the outside.

• When brushing with the roll method, there is a tendency to habitually brush only the areas you focus on, so it is important to set your own routine and brush thoroughly without missing any areas.

• For the inside of the front teeth, brush with the toothbrush held vertically. The inner side of the lower molars and the outer side of the upper molars are areas the toothbrush does not easily reach, so you should be especially careful when brushing there. Brush the chewing surfaces of the molars by moving the toothbrush back and forth, and finally brush the tongue by sweeping from the inside to the outside.

• When brushing with the roll method, there is a tendency to habitually brush only the areas you focus on, so it is important to set your own routine and brush thoroughly without missing any areas.

2. Horizontal scrubbing method (Bass method)

• Position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the border between the teeth and gums, then place it so that it feels as if the bristles are slightly entering between the teeth and gums. Give about 10 short back-and-forth vibrations to massage the gums, then brush with the roll method by sweeping from the gums toward the teeth.

• It is important not to apply too much force when giving the vibrations. In fact, brushing too hard can cause wounds and bleeding, so you should brush gently.

• Hold the toothbrush vertically to brush the inside of the front teeth as well, and brush the chewing surfaces back and forth. Finally, brush the tongue.

• The horizontal scrubbing method (Bass method) helps manage inflammation by massaging the gums and also helps clean the tooth surfaces by sweeping along them.

• Point! Gum massage + short back-and-forth vibrations, then sweep away

3. Brushing method for orthodontic patients (Modified Charters method)

• For orthodontic patients, it is best to use a concave toothbrush with V-shaped bristles or a fine-bristled toothbrush. Since the brackets and wire are located in the concave area, brushing by moving the toothbrush horizontally is helpful for focusing on the entire bracket and the areas above and below it.

• However, this method alone makes it difficult to effectively clean the upper and lower areas of the brackets, so plaque often remains there. In particular, plaque often remains near the gums. To clean these areas, it is good to change the angle of the bristles to 45 degrees and reverse 45 degrees, and brush with vibrations above and below the brackets.

• Brush once in front of the bracket, once with the brush angled upward diagonally above the appliance, and once with the brush angled downward diagonally below the appliance.

• Point! Brush like combing hair, with short back-and-forth vibrations!

End-tuft Brush

• To thoroughly clean the sides of the brackets, the area behind the last molars, the spaces between teeth created by extraction, and the gum line, it is best to use an interdental brush or an end-tuft brush.

https://images.app.goo.gl/b7dtnAow4DtqyUWH6

• Put the end-tuft brush behind the molars and move it back and forth to sweep the teeth. For extraction spaces, it is also important to keep them clean by using the end-tuft brush to push and clean them, as if imagining a toothpick.

• Because the toothbrush has difficulty reaching the gum line due to the brackets, bacteria such as plaque can build up and cause the gums to swell and become inflamed. Therefore, use the end-tuft brush along the gum line and brush as if drawing a picture, imagining that you are painting with a brush.

Interdental brush and floss

• Use an interdental brush to clean between appliances and teeth, and between teeth, where a regular toothbrush cannot easily reach. Interdental brushes come in various sizes, and you should start with the smallest size and determine the one that fits you best. Do not force it into areas where it does not fit; choose a size appropriate for the space so that it can enter without resistance.

• Floss is used for areas where even the smallest interdental brush cannot fit, and if food is stuck, remove it with floss. Thread the floss under the orthodontic wire as if threading a needle, then hold it and care for the area.

https://images.app.goo.gl/pcxts9yL2Wr8JLuf6 / https://images.app.goo.gl/8tMCSBxmRbtrP3DN8

At Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, orthodontic treatment includes the consultation fee, monthly fee, and other costs (excluding the retainer fee), so you do not need to worry about additional expenses. In addition, because general dentistry is available as well, all necessary orthodontic treatments such as extractions and cavity treatment can be done in one place. We also offer an installment payment system to reduce the burden of paying a large sum at once, making it even more appealing.

At Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, orthodontic treatment includes the consultation fee, monthly fee, mini-screw costs, and other expenses (excluding the retainer fee), so you do not need to worry about additional expenses. In addition, we offer installment payments to reduce the burden of paying a large amount at once, making it even more appealing.

Chief Director Joon Jungwon, who is in charge of the orthodontics department, has specialized only in orthodontics for 16 years of clinical experience and has extensive experience with many highly difficult cases. Therefore, treatment is possible effectively for a wide range of orthodontic cases such as malocclusion, protruding mouth, and underbite.

At Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, we have all the latest equipment needed for orthodontic treatment, including the iTero Lumina 3D oral scanner, growth plate test, and pre- and post-treatment simulation using the Morpheus facial scanner, so orthodontic treatment can be carried out more precisely and systematically.

Perhaps those considering orthodontic treatment due to protruding mouth, crooked teeth, malocclusion, underbite, and similar concerns have already gathered a lot of information through searching. Even so, comparing the devices in person and hearing detailed explanations will be very helpful in making your decision.

During consultation, you can directly compare various appliances such as Clarity, Clippy-C, and Invisalign and hear detailed explanations of their pros and cons, so we recommend making a phone inquiry or visiting for a consultation without hesitation.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic is close to Samseong Station, Hakyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it very convenient for patients coming from Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, and Gaepo-dong.