How should toothbrushing habits be changed to maintain oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment?

Oral hygiene must be maximized during orthodontic treatment. Brackets and wires create highly favorable environments for food particles to accumulate and bacterial plaque to form. Therefore, it is necessary to go beyond standard brushing. Teeth should be brushed thoroughly at least three times a day, especially after each main meal. Interdental brushes must be used to clean the spaces between the wires and around the brackets that normal brushes cannot reach. In addition, orthodontic floss and oral irrigators should be added to the daily care routine to remove plaque that accumulates around the brackets. Neglecting oral care can lead to white spots on the tooth surfaces and deep cavities after the braces are removed.