How do I use a braces cleaner correctly?
The application instructions for the individual cleaning methods vary.
- For cleaning tabs, the braces should first be rinsed with water. The cleaning tablet is then dissolved with water at 40 degrees Celsius and the braces are placed in this bath for three to five minutes.
An additional mechanical treatment with a brush or similar is not necessary according to the instructions. After the exposure time the orthodontic appliance should only be rinsed with water.It is noticeable that coarse deposits on the braces cannot be removed by simply inserting them. The mechanical application with a brush is then recommended, but preferably before insertion to protect the plastic.
- When using cleaners in gel form, an approximately pea-sized portion of the gel should be applied to the braces and worked into all surfaces with a special brush.
The cleaning process of the braces takes about 3 – 4 minutes. After application, the orthodontic appliance is simply rinsed thoroughly with water.
- When using an ultrasonic bath, the orthodontic appliance is placed in the bath and the timer is set to 3 – 5 minutes, longer or shorter depending on the degree of soiling. The vibrations of the ultrasonic crystal cause stubborn plaque to be blasted off the braces without damaging the base. This method is also used in dental laboratories for professional cleaning and is also very suitable for cleaning dentures, glasses and jewelry.
Home remedy for cleaning braces
Home remedies are also becoming increasingly popular for cleaning orthodontic appliances. Variants include vinegar and citric acid, which are both acid-based. The use of sodium salt or baking powder, which mechanically removes coarse plaque with a toothbrush, is also said to produce satisfactory results.
It should be noted that both baking soda and baking powder are very coarse-grained and brushing with a toothbrush removes the soft plastic strongly. With regular use, the plastic base becomes thinner and thinner and can break more easily. In addition, the coarse-grained powders become rough due to wear and tear and can promote the adhesion of a bacterial biofilm such as tartar.
Therefore, these two variants are not recommended. But how is the use of vinegar and citric acid to evaluate? Household vinegar is based on the effect of acetic acid.
In highly diluted solutions, acetic acid is used in special cleaning solutions for dentures such as total dentures. The acid reliably removes the mechanical biofilm, but in high concentrations it can also damage and weaken the plastic of the denture or braces. As a result, the plastic base can break more easily.
Therefore, acetic acid in low concentration solutions is a good alternative for daily cleaning of the braces, but it is not easy to produce an equivalent low concentration solution by yourself. Therefore it is advisable to use a ready-made cleaning solution especially for dentures and braces and not to dilute it yourself from household vinegar. Citric acid as a household remedy for cleaning braces is similar to acetic acid.
In low concentrated solutions it is a good possibility to clean the braces, but the concentration is difficult to reproduce and estimate. In order not to damage the base of the braces, it is better to use ready-mixed products. Theoretically it is possible to produce a diluted acid solution for cleaning from vinegar and citric acid, but the concentration cannot be detected without technical aids.
Therefore it is difficult to judge whether the concentration is still too high or not. For this reason, domestic production is not recommended.
