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Kids’ dentistry · Children and teens in braces
Dental Care During Braces: Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
Children in braces need extra care because brackets trap plaque, raising the risk of white spots and cavities. Brush after meals, clean around every bracket, limit sugary snacks and keep regular dental check-ups. At Yonsei Baro near Isu Station, our pediatric dentist and orthodontist can coordinate your child’s care.
Dental care during braces at a glance
| Question | At Yonsei Baro |
|---|---|
| Main risks | White-spot lesions, cavities and swollen gums from plaque around brackets |
| Daily routine | Fluoride toothpaste, careful brushing after meals, interdental brushes or floss threaders |
| Check-ups | Regular pediatric dental check-ups and cleanings alongside orthodontic visits |
| Who is involved | Dr. Ho-seon Lee (pediatric dentist) and Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee (orthodontist) |
| Extra protection | Fluoride varnish and other prevention, if your child’s dentist recommends it |
Why do braces raise the risk of decay?
Brackets, wires and bands create many small ledges where plaque and food collect, and they make brushing slower and trickier. If plaque sits against the enamel for weeks, the acid it produces starts to dissolve minerals from the tooth surface. The first sign is often a chalky white patch around where the bracket sits, called a white-spot lesion.
White spots are an early stage of decay. Caught early, they can sometimes improve with good cleaning and fluoride, but they may leave visible marks once the braces come off, and if they progress they can become cavities. Gums can also become swollen and bleed easily when plaque builds up at the gum line.
Who looks after my child’s teeth during orthodontic treatment?
Two specialists, with different roles. Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee , our board-certified orthodontist, plans and adjusts the braces and checks progress, usually about every 4–6 weeks for braces . Dr. Ho-seon Lee, our board-certified pediatric dentist, focuses on the health of the teeth and gums: check-ups, cleanings, fluoride and any fillings.
Because both work at the same clinic, they can coordinate check-ups and cleanings around your child’s orthodontic visits and share what they see. If our pediatric dentist notices white spots or swollen gums, the orthodontist knows about it, and vice versa.
A daily routine that protects teeth in braces
- Brush after meals and before bed with fluoride toothpaste, angling the brush above and below each bracket and along the gum line.
- Clean between the teeth daily with an interdental brush, a floss threader or orthodontic floss.
- Spit, don’t rinse, after brushing, so fluoride stays on the teeth.
- Check in a mirror: brackets and the gum line should look clean and shiny, not fuzzy or white.
- Pack a travel toothbrush for school, academies and sports days.
For step-by-step technique and tools, see our guide to cleaning teeth with braces . Children wearing clear aligners should brush before putting aligners back in, so food and sugar aren’t trapped against the teeth.
Food and drink: what helps and what to limit
Sugary and acidic drinks, sipped often, are a common cause of white spots in braces. Keep sweet drinks and snacks to mealtimes, choose water between meals, and avoid sticky or hard foods that can trap sugar or break brackets. Our guide on what to eat with braces covers everyday foods, including Korean favourites.
How often should my child have check-ups during braces?
Orthodontic adjustment visits are not the same as dental check-ups. Your child still needs regular check-ups and cleanings , and children at higher risk may benefit from more frequent visits and fluoride varnish . Dr. Ho-seon Lee will suggest an interval based on your child’s oral hygiene and cavity risk.
Ideally, teeth should be free of active decay before braces go on. If your child is about to start treatment, a pediatric dental check first can catch problems early.
What if a bracket breaks or a wire pokes?
Broken brackets and poking wires are usually not emergencies. Message us on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk with a photo, and we will advise and arrange a visit. See braces and aligner problems for first-aid tips.
Let us know when you book that you’d like English support — Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee and our team can help explain your child’s care in English.
Braces and dental care FAQs
Can white spots from braces be fixed?
Sometimes they improve. Very early white spots can partly remineralise with excellent cleaning and fluoride, especially once the braces are off and the area is easier to clean. More established spots may remain visible, and some may need treatment. Prevention is much easier than repair, which is why we watch for early changes during treatment.
Does my child still need dental check-ups if they see the orthodontist every few weeks?
Yes. Orthodontic visits focus on moving the teeth; they are not a substitute for dental check-ups and professional cleaning. Children in braces often need check-ups at least as often as before, and sometimes more often, because plaque builds up more easily around brackets. At Yonsei Baro the two can be coordinated.
Is an electric toothbrush better for braces?
Either a manual or an electric toothbrush can work well if it is used carefully, angled around each bracket and along the gum line for two minutes. Some children find an electric brush easier and more motivating. Whatever you choose, add an interdental brush or floss threader to clean between teeth and under the wire.
Should my child see the pediatric dentist before getting braces?
It is a good idea. Starting orthodontic treatment with healthy teeth and gums lowers the risk of problems during treatment. A check-up and cleaning beforehand allows any cavities to be treated and gives your child a chance to practise good cleaning habits before the brackets go on.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ho-seon Lee
Board-certified pediatric dentist (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare) · Director of Pediatric Dentistry · Last updated October 2026
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Every child is different; your child's dentist will recommend care after an examination. In an emergency involving breathing, heavy bleeding, a head injury or facial swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, call 119.
Keep teeth healthy throughout braces
Book a pediatric dental check-up alongside your child’s orthodontic visits. Contact us for pediatric dentistry appointment times. Isu Station Exit 2, Seoul.