Yes, you still need a dentist while you have braces. Your orthodontist moves your teeth, while your dentist keeps your teeth and gums healthy with exams, cleanings, and cavity care. Regular dental visits matter even more with braces, because brackets and wires give plaque more places to hide.
Wondering how the two roles differ? We cover that in our post on the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. Here, we’ll focus on what dental care looks like while you’re in braces or Invisalign.
Why Do You Need a Dentist When You Have Braces?
Braces don’t harm your teeth, but they do make cleaning harder. Food and plaque collect around brackets and wires, and a regular toothbrush can’t always reach those spots. Plaque left behind can lead to:
- Cavities: Decay can start in hard-to-reach areas around brackets.
- White spots: These chalky marks signal enamel demineralization, a weakening of the enamel that can leave permanent marks after braces come off.
- Red, swollen gums: Irritated gums are an early sign of gum disease.
Your dentist can catch these problems early, clean areas you can’t reach at home, and treat cavities. As orthodontists, we focus on moving your teeth and correcting your bite, so cleanings and fillings stay with your dentist. For tips between visits, see our guides to cleaning your teeth with braces and cavities with braces or Invisalign.
Teeth Cleaning With Braces: What to Expect
Can you get your teeth cleaned with braces? Yes. Most dentists can clean around braces without removing anything. Let your dentist’s office know you have braces when you make your appointment, and plan for the visit to take a little longer than usual so they have time to clean around all the hardware.
Your dentist will use special tools, from ultrasonic cleaners and small brushes to floss threaders. They’ll also look for white spots and check your gum health.
If your dentist finds a cavity, they’ll fill it, or they may ask us to remove an archwire or bracket so they can reach it. If you have Invisalign, you’ll simply take out your aligners.
How Often Should You See a Dentist With Braces?
Most patients keep their regular dental schedule, often every six months. If there are signs your teeth aren’t getting as clean, such as white spots or red, irritated gums that may signal gum disease, your dentist or our team may suggest more frequent cleanings, such as every three to four months.
Keep your orthodontic appointments too. You’ll usually see us every 6 to 8 weeks, so there’s time in between for dental visits.
Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy With Braces
What you do at home matters as much as what happens at the dentist’s office:
- Brush after meals and before bed with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean around brackets with a small interdental brush, floss threaders, or a water flosser.
- Limit sugary drinks and sticky foods, which also helps protect your brackets.
- If you have Invisalign, brush your teeth before putting your aligners back in, and clean the aligners daily.
- Ask your dentist or us whether a fluoride rinse or treatment makes sense for you.
When Should You Call Your Dentist With Braces?
Don’t wait for your next scheduled visit if you notice a toothache or sensitivity that won’t go away, bleeding or swollen gums, lingering bad breath, or a chalky white spot near a bracket. These can be early signs of a cavity or gum problems, and catching them early usually means simpler treatment. If a wire or bracket is poking you or has come loose, call us instead. We can help with orthodontic emergencies.
How Your Dentist and Orthodontist Work Together
You don’t have to be the go-between. After your first exam with us, we email your dentist a letter that lists your main concerns, our clinical findings, our treatment recommendation, and the treatment decision you made. It includes a composite of the photos we took at your exam and a 2D image of your X-ray. We don’t automatically send the full 3D CBCT scan, since many offices don’t have the software to open it, but we’re glad to share it if your dentist asks.
When your treatment is complete, we send your dentist another letter. It explains what treatment you had, what we recommend for retention (such as retainers), and includes before-and-after photos. Most of the conversation about your care happens directly between our doctors and your dentist.
FAQs About Treatment Changes
Do I still need to see a dentist during orthodontic treatment?
Yes. We’ll straighten your teeth, and your dentist will help keep them clean and healthy. Continue your regular dental visits.
Can you get your teeth cleaned with braces?
Yes. Your dentist has tools to clean around your braces, or you can remove your clear aligners.
Is it better to schedule a cleaning just before or just after an adjustment?
It depends. If you’re getting any bonding done, we don’t want you to brush your teeth or have a cleaning that day beforehand. A natural film called the pellicle, which coats your teeth, helps the bonding material stick. We always stress keeping up with routine cleanings throughout your treatment, so ask us when you schedule.
What happens if a bracket or wire comes loose at the dentist's office?
Your dentist usually calls our office, or tells you to call us to schedule a visit. Reattaching a bracket or wire isn’t something a dentist can repair, so we’ll take care of it.
Healthy Teeth Take Both a Dentist and an Orthodontist
We don’t just want your teeth to be straight. We want them to be healthy. That’s why your dentist and orthodontist work as a team throughout your treatment.
If you need an orthodontist in Topeka, KS, schedule an appointment with Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics. We’ll be happy to work with your dentist during your braces or Invisalign treatment.
