How to Floss with Braces
July 21, 2019 6:26 pmWe get it, braces make flossing harder. But that doesn’t mean you get to skip it altogether! Read on to learn what could happen if you skipped flossing the entire duration of your orthodontic treatment. We also give some tips on flossing with braces.
The Importance of Flossing
Why do you have to floss? It’s an imperative step in maintaining your oral health and wellness. As you eat, a sticky film of bacteria, called plaque, begins to build up along the gum line and under the gums. The continued accumulation of plaque can cause tooth decay, gum disease, tooth discoloration, and even eventual tooth loss. Flossing allows you to access those hard-to-reach areas, removing the bacteria and food particles that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.
Try a Water Flosser
Many braces-wearers find a water flosser to be an incredibly useful tool. This nifty gadget delivers a pressurized stream of water that blasts away bacteria and food particles from crevices, nooks, and crannies you didn’t even know your mouth had! If you struggle with tooth sensitivity, be sure to use warm water. And for an added oral hygiene boost, add some alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash to the water reservoir. Just be sure to not swallow any of the water-mouthrinse mixture.
String Flossing
String flossing with braces takes extra time and patience. Standing in front of your bathroom mirror, take your dental floss and thread it through the space between the wire and your teeth. This should allow you to access the space between your two teeth. After that, unthread the floss from between the teeth and wire and move on to the next area. When maneuvering the floss you’ll want to be careful so as not to tangle the floss, get it caught in the brackets, or even do damage to your braces. Many patients find floss threaders help them navigate string flossing with braces.
Still Having Trouble? We Can Help!
If you’re still struggling to master the art of flossing with braces, come on in for an appointment. Here at Weatherford Braces, we’re pros–we can help you figure it out.
Categorised in: Oral Hygiene, Orthodontic Tips
