Yes, you need to brush your teeth twice a day when you have braces. But you need to make sure you’re using the right toothpaste! It can be overwhelming at the store to choose which toothpaste is best. Whitening? sensitivity? fluoride?
The first thing to look for is make sure it has the American Dental Association seal (ADA). The reason we recommend this is because that while the FDA does require manufacturers to meet certain guidelines, they do not test all of these products for compliance. The American Dental Association conducts extensive testing on the products to ensure that they meet these standards and are effective in their claims.
There is no special toothpaste you need for brushing with braces. But you want to make sure you keep your teeth extra clean as it’s easy for food to get stuck in between the braces.
Find a cavity fighter. Fluoride is the only ingredient approved to fight cavities. You’ll see it listed as sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, or stannous fluoride, and it helps enamel patch itself up before decay can lead to a cavity. Most pastes also have a base like baking soda to neutralize acids that rot teeth (that’s what fluoride- free ones rely on for protection).
For sensitive teeth: You’ll need a desensitize, too. Arginine bicarbonate plugs the exposed pores in your teeth for immediate relief, while other ingredients, such as potassium nitrate and strontium chloride, block pain signals to the brain.