How to Clean a Teeth Expander

A teeth expander, more commonly referred to as a palate expander, is an orthodontic device used to widen the upper jaw to help align teeth and fit them together. It is positioned between four upper teeth -- two on the right side and two on the left side -- and tightened multiple times daily to help extend or widen the jaw. Some expanders are removable, while others are not. The expander should be cleaned at least two times a day to remove food and particles and prevent bad breath.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove the teeth expander prior to cleaning, if it is the removable kind.

• 2

  Place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a soft- to medium-bristled toothbrush.

• 3

  Brush the expander the same way you would brush your teeth. Scrub the entire surface as well as any crevices you can reach with the brush.

• 4

  Swish water in your mouth to remove toothpaste residue if the expander can not be removed, or rinse a removable expander under running water to rid it of toothpaste.