If your child has braces, you may be asked to have their orthodontic wires removed before coming in for a dental cleaning. We know what you may be thinking: Another appointment?
Braces are a big investment in your child’s smile. They’re also a big change in how your child’s teeth need to be cared for.
Coordinating a trip to the orthodontist before the dentist can be inconvenient, especially when you’re already juggling school, work, activities, and regular orthodontic appointments. But when we recommend removing the wire, there’s an important reason behind it: we want to be able to give your child’s teeth and gums the most thorough cleaning possible.
A little extra coordination can go a long way toward protecting your child’s smile throughout orthodontic treatment.
Braces Make It Harder to Keep Teeth Clean
Brackets and wires create lots of little spaces where plaque, bacteria, and food debris can collect, including areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), braces require extra attention to brushing and cleaning between the teeth throughout orthodontic treatment.
Even kids who do an excellent job caring for their teeth can develop buildup around their orthodontic appliances. It isn’t necessarily a reflection of how well your child is brushing. Some areas are simply difficult to access at home.
Good oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment. Encourage your child to brush thoroughly around the brackets and along the gumline, floss between their teeth every day, and use fluoride as recommended by their dental team. Floss threaders, interdental brushes, and water flossers can make flossing with braces easier and help reach some of those tricky spaces.
Regular professional dental cleanings provide another layer of protection by addressing buildup that can be difficult to remove at home.
Why Remove the Wire Before a Cleaning?
The archwire is the wire that runs through the brackets attached to your child’s teeth. When that wire is in place, it can limit access to certain areas around the brackets and teeth.
Removing it gives the dental hygienist better access to thoroughly clean around the brackets and along the gumline. It also makes it easier to floss between the teeth and remove plaque and tartar from areas that may otherwise be difficult to reach.
Think of it this way: We don’t want to simply clean around the orthodontic appliances. Having the wire removed allows us to provide a more thorough cleaning and better protect your child’s teeth and gums throughout orthodontic treatment.
What Can Happen When Plaque Builds Up Around Braces?
Plaque isn’t just something that makes teeth feel fuzzy. It contains bacteria, and when plaque remains around the teeth and braces, it can contribute to several oral health problems.
Gingivitis
Plaque buildup along the gumline can cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. You may notice gums that are red, swollen, tender, or bleed easily when your child brushes or flosses. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible with professional care and good oral hygiene.
Cavities
Brackets and wires provide additional places for plaque and food debris to accumulate. If those areas aren’t cleaned effectively, your child’s risk of tooth decay can increase. The AAO specifically emphasizes the importance of removing plaque and food from around braces to help prevent cavities.
White Spots on the Teeth
One of our biggest concerns during orthodontic treatment is the development of white spot lesions.
These chalky white areas occur when acids produced by plaque bacteria cause minerals to be lost from the tooth’s enamel. Orthodontic appliances can increase the risk because brackets, wires, and tight spaces make it easier for plaque to accumulate and harder to remove.
White spots can be an early sign of enamel damage, and some may remain visible after the braces come off. In other words, your child could finish orthodontic treatment with beautifully straight teeth but be left with areas of damaged enamel.
That’s exactly what we’re trying to prevent.
Your Dentist and Orthodontist Have Different Jobs
Your orthodontist and dentist are both helping care for your child’s smile, but they have different roles.
The orthodontist focuses on moving the teeth and correcting alignment and bite. Your child’s dental team continues to monitor the health of the teeth and gums, check for decay, and provide preventive care and professional cleanings.
That’s why regular dental visits shouldn’t stop just because your child is seeing an orthodontist frequently.
Orthodontic treatment can last months or even years. During that time, we want to keep the teeth underneath those brackets as healthy as possible so that when the braces finally come off, your child can enjoy a smile that’s not only straighter but healthy, too.
Making Two Appointments a Little Easier
We understand that having the wire removed can add another step to an already busy day. If your child’s orthodontist and dentist recommend wire removal for a cleaning, try scheduling the appointments on the same day. In many cases, you can visit the orthodontist first to have the wire removed, come to the dental office for the cleaning, and then return to the orthodontist to have the wire replaced.
If the offices are far apart or coordinating appointments is difficult, talk with both offices ahead of time. They may be able to help you determine the best way to coordinate your child’s care.
It may be a little inconvenient, but there is a good reason for taking the extra step.
Protect the Smile You’re Investing In
Orthodontic treatment requires time, money, and a lot of commitment from both kids and parents. Taking extra care of the teeth throughout treatment helps protect that investment.
Removing an orthodontic wire before a dental cleaning isn’t about making the cleaning easier for us. It’s about helping us provide the thorough preventive care your child’s teeth and gums need during orthodontic treatment.
Even children with excellent oral hygiene can have plaque and bacteria hiding in difficult-to-reach areas around their orthodontic appliances. A little extra coordination now can help reduce the risk of cavities, gingivitis, and permanent white spots later.
At Growing Healthy Smiles, we help children and teens in Fleming Island and surrounding Northeast Florida communities maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout orthodontic treatment. If your child has braces, our team can work with you to help make sure their dental care stays on track from the day the braces go on until the day they come off.
After all, when those braces finally come off, we want the teeth underneath them to be just as healthy as they are beautifully aligned.
Want more ways to help keep your child’s teeth healthy throughout orthodontic treatment? Read our Top 5 Tips for Taking Care of Braces for simple ways to protect their teeth, gums, and smile while wearing braces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Cleanings With Braces
Do orthodontic wires need to be removed before every dental cleaning?
Not necessarily. Whether the wire needs to be removed can depend on your child’s orthodontic appliances, oral health, amount of plaque or tartar buildup, and the type of cleaning they need. Your dental team can let you know when removing the wire is recommended to allow for a more thorough cleaning.
Why does the orthodontic wire need to be removed for a dental cleaning?
Removing the wire gives the dental hygienist better access around the brackets, between the teeth, and along the gumline. These areas can collect plaque and tartar that are difficult to reach when orthodontic appliances are in place.
Can my child still get their teeth cleaned with braces?
Absolutely. Regular dental cleanings are especially important while your child has braces. Brackets and wires create additional areas where plaque and food can collect, so professional cleanings help keep the teeth and gums healthy throughout orthodontic treatment.
Who removes the orthodontic wire before a dental cleaning?
The orthodontist typically removes the archwire. If your child’s dental team recommends wire removal, you may need to coordinate an appointment with the orthodontist before the dental cleaning and then return afterward to have the wire replaced.
Can braces cause white spots on teeth?
Braces themselves don’t cause white spots, but plaque that remains around brackets can lead to mineral loss from the enamel. This can result in chalky white areas called white spot lesions. Thorough brushing, cleaning between the teeth, fluoride, and regular professional dental care can help reduce the risk.
How often should children with braces have their teeth professionally cleaned?
Children with braces should continue to have regular dental checkups and professional cleanings throughout orthodontic treatment. How often your child needs a cleaning depends on their individual oral health and risk factors, so your dentist may recommend a schedule based on their specific needs.