Oral health?

I have braces, and I feel like I can never get my teeth tottally clean, I use a water pik, one of those thingys that you brush through your teeth that look like a Christmas tree, of course brushing my teeth, and a toung scrapper, but i can never totally feel like my teeth{and breath} is totally clean, can you give me some tips for oral hygine, with braces?

ORAL HYGIENE FOR ORTHODONTICS
If you thought brushing and flossing were important before you got braces鈥ell, you were right. But people undergoing orthodontic treatment need to be even more dedicated to good oral hygiene.
-"Braces trap food very easily, which contributes to plaque formation," says Thomas Cangialosi, D.D.S., chairman of the Section of Growth and Development and director of the Division of Orthodontics at Columbia University. "If plaque is not carefully reomved from teeth and from around braces, patients run the risk of developing gum disease, dental decay and bad breath."
-Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, debris and food particles. The bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids, which irritate your gums, erode the enamel on your teeth and contribute to bad breath (halitosis).
-It's important to remove the plaque thoroughly and often. Then, when your braces come off, the teeth underneath will be healthy and strong. Here are some tips to help you.

Brushing
-Use a soft-bristle toothbrush 鈥?Soft bristles are better than medium or hard bristles at getting into those nooks and crannies, and they don't irritate your gums.
-Some companies make toothbrushes especially for people with braces. Known as bi-level brushes, the brushes have longer bristles on the edges and shorter ones in the middle. You don't need to seek out these brushes, though, because many regular toothbrushes are now made this way as well.
-The most important thing is to look for a brush that's soft and approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). After that, the size of the brush, the shape of the handle and other variations are up to you.
-What about an electric toothbrush? It's not necessary, but if you have one, it's safe to use it on your braces. Just be careful not to hit the plastic back of the brush against the brackets on your braces because it can damage the brackets. Also, it should be used on a moderate setting so as not to break or loosen appliances.
-Brush at least two or three times a day 鈥?Brush before bed and at least one other time every day. It is best to brush after meals to make sure there's no food trapped in or around braces.
-Brush for at least two to three minutes each time "Brushing should be done slowly and carefully," says Dr. Cangialosi. "It's important to brush the braces and all the surfaces of the teeth, that is, the inside and outside surface and the chewing surfaces, too. You should take at least two or three minutes each time your brush." It's best to use a watch or timer to make sure you are brushing long enough.

Flossing
-Floss at least once a day 鈥?It might seem like you can't possibly floss while you have braces, but you can and you should. There are special flossing products 鈥?including floss threaders and a special kind of floss 鈥?to help you get into the space between the wires and your gumline. When your braces are first put on, someone in your orthodontist's office should review flossing techniques. If you're not sure you're doing it right, ask your orthodontist during your next visit.

Fluoride
-Use a fluoride toothpaste 鈥?It doesn't really matter which one 鈥?just make sure it has the ADA seal of approval.
-For more fluoride, try an over-the-counter fluoride rinse 鈥?Over-the-counter fluoride rinses usually provide enough fluoride to help protect and strengthen teeth during orthodontic treatment. However, if you have a history of cavities or are otherwise at risk of decay, you orthodontist may prescribe a fluoride rinse that is highly concentrated, Dr. Cangialosi says.
-Office treatment 鈥?You can get a fluoride treatment 鈥?usually in the form of a gel or varnish 鈥?from your dentist during a regular visit. If you have a history of decay, your dentist may suggest this type of treatment.

Tools To Help You
-Rubber-tipped and end-tuft or single-tuft brushes 鈥?These are special brushes that help you to get into those nooks and crannies, as well as between your teeth. The end-tuft or single-tuft brushes look like pipe cleaners.
-Oral irrigators 鈥?These instruments shoot small streams of water onto your teeth at high pressure to remove food particles. "They should be used as an aid in your oral hygiene practice, but not in place of brushing and flossing," Dr. Cangialosi says. They also should be used at a moderate setting so they don't damage the braces.
-Antibacterial rinses 鈥?These rinses are fine for adults, but their high alcohol content makes them off-limits for kids. "There are alcohol-free rinses available for children to use, but some are designed only to freshen breath and not to kill bacteria," Dr. Cangialosi says. "Before buying an antibacterial rinse for your child to use, you should ask your orthodontist which rinses he or she recommends."
-Disclosing solutions or tablets 鈥?Your dentist may have used these during an office visit to see where you tend to miss spots after brushing. Disclosing tablets and solutions use vegetable dye to highlight spots in your mouth where there's plaque or debris. "Once you see the spots, you can quickly remove them with your toothbrush," Dr. Cangialosi says. You can find them in a drugstore or get some from your dentist and use them at home.
-if you have questions about using any oral hygiene product 鈥?even your toothbrush 鈥?correctly, call your orthodontist's office or talk to someone there during your next visit.

Caring For Your Retainer
If you have a retainer or other removable orthodontic appliance, it needs to be cleaned regularly, too. After all, it spends a lot of time in your mouth.
-Brush the appliance daily with your toothbrush and some toothpaste, especially the side that is in contact with the roof of your mouth or gums. If you want to soak it in a cleaning solution (there are several that are advertised as denture cleaners), talk to your orthodontist about which solution you should use. Some cleaning solutions can corrode wires or other metallic areas on orthodontic appliances.
-When brushing or soaking your appliance, never use hot water. It can distort the plastic and make the appliance unusable. When your retainer is not in your mouth, keep it in the case that your orthodontist gives you. Also, keep it away from your pets. Dogs and cats love the plastic and will chew it to bits if they get it.

Eating Right
While you're wearing braces, you need to think twice about eating foods that could increase your risk of cavities. You also should avoid anything that might damage your brackets or wires. Frequently breaking your braces will add to the overall treatment time.
-Stay away from hard and sticky foods. Caramel, hard candy, gum鈥ou get the idea. They can damage your braces and get stuck in the wires and brackets. While the food's stuck there, it provides lots of sugar for cavity-causing bacteria to munch on.
-Cut down on all sugary foods. You can still have sweets and soda, but the more sugars you eat, the greater your risk of tooth decay.
-It's not just what you eat, but also when you eat it. Frequent snacking on sugary foods is worse than eating those foods with a non-sugary meal. The more chances you give the bacteria to turn sugars into acids, the higher your risk of decay.

Dental Visits
Don't ignore your dentist just because you're visiting an orthodontist regularly. It is still important to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning or as often as your dentist and orthodontist recommends. Source(s): http://www.simplestepsdental.com/ss/ihts...

I WOULD SAY USE MOUTHWASH
Listerene helps
I would suggest getting one of those small toddler tooth brushes and just take your time and cleaning the whole surface area of your teeth/braces and then going through with a wooden toothpick to scrape any plaque/food your tooth brush did not get (you'd be surprised how much you actually miss, even when you brush thuroughly. Use your tounge scraper and then rinse with listereen. I think it is something like 95% of bad breath is caused by bacteria living in your mouth so using listereen (I prefer the orange flavor) helps kill the bacteria. If you can get to the dentist for a quick cleaning monthly while you have your braces on, you will probably feel better about all those nooks and crannies you may have missed while brushing. Some days, I brush my teeth three times and usually at least rinse with listereen in the afternoon.
Hope this helps.
A smaller tooth brush will help (soft bristles). While you are brushing...ask someone to stand in the room next to the bathroom. If they can hear you brushing...you are doing a great job. The water pik is a big help, as well!

There is a technique of brushing that might help as well. Instead of the old side to side motion...try brushing in a circular motion.

As long as you can not scrape any plaque (that white sticky stuff) off of your teeth when you are done brushing, you are doing a great job. It is easier to brush your front teeth...so when you do the scrape test choose a back tooth.
Certified dental assistant