5 Tricks To Make Flossing With Braces Easier

By Author: Michael Clarke
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To have impressive results and a healthy mouth, you must take care of your teeth and braces. This means brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. Take time to clean all the food particles or plaque that may stick to the metal brackets and cause unwanted dental issues such as tooth decay, cavities or gum disease.

If you wish to learn some tricks to make flossing with braces easier while finding out which floss is best for braces, continue reading below.

Why is Flossing Important?

It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene regardless of if you are undergoing orthodontic treatment or not. Ideally, you would want to brush your teeth after each meal. It is generally recommended to brush your teeth at least twice per day, with "evening brushing" being a priority. When you go to sleep, your mouth has no saliva, and that environment becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. If you do not brush your teeth, especially before you go to sleep, you are bound to have some dental problems such as gum disease or cavities.

In addition to brushing your teeth, flossing is recommended at least once per day. ...
... Flossing is an excellent way of removing plaque and food that builds up in between the teeth and other places that are unreachable by a toothbrush.

One of the most frequently asked questions by people undergoing a teeth alignment procedure is: do you have to floss with braces? The simple answer to this is: Yes.

Wearing braces means you have to take extra care of your teeth. Traditional braces are made from metal brackets and wires and, as such, are perfect for trapping food and accumulating plaque. Also, certain bacteria can stick to the braces and potentially lead to numerous unnecessary dental issues. Cavities may form and demineralize tooth enamel. In extreme cases, this can damage the braces and cause them to break. You may have to visit your orthodontist much more if you do not maintain proper oral hygiene. In case of cavities or any other disease, the dentist will have to remove the braces first, then fix the problem, then glue the braces back again. More visits to the orthodontist means more money spent and more obstacles throughout your orthodontic course.

5 Tricks To Make Flossing With Braces Easier

Flossing remains an important part of oral hygiene even with braces. It can be tiresome and extremely annoying at times. The metal brackets and wires can stop you from doing many things with ease, but this should never deter you from flossing. Most people are unsure of how to floss with braces, so following some of these tricks will certainly help.

Use Thin Waxed Floss

You can still floss with braces using the regular dental floss, but the reality is that you will probably want to switch to thinner, waxed floss. Waxed floss has a special coating that makes it much easier to get between teeth and the metal wires of braces. Un-waxed floss isn't coated and therefore is more prone to getting stuck and breaking on the metal brackets and wires. Floss that is too thick may have trouble passing through your teeth and around braces due to small gaps.

Make Sure Floss Is Long Enough

When wearing braces, the length of floss you are supposed to use for flossing is not the same as it is without braces. Try taking at least an 18 to 24-inch long strip and threading the end of it behind the main wire in your braces. Short floss can result in problems such as maneuvering through your teeth or having to thread the floss between tight gaps all over again. When flossing, make sure to gently move the floss around the teeth rather than on the wire. Do not apply too much force and when you are done, carefully remove the floss without yanking.

Floss Threader

Teeth that are in the alignment process can be extremely narrow, and sometimes there is no gap for floss to go through. A floss threader is a thin and rigid, needle-like tool made out of plastic. It will help you thread floss between narrow gaps of teeth and braces, and you can find this helpful tool in most stores that sell toothbrushes or other dental appliances. Make sure you pass the floss through the loop and then pull the threader to move the floss between your teeth and above the wire. Remember not to yank the floss or push the threader too hard as it may break or hurt your teeth and gums.

Waterpik

Waterpiks are a useful tool which can make your life a whole lot easier when wearing braces. They work by firing a thin stream of water at high pressure into the spaces between your teeth. Water easily passes between your teeth and braces, making it an ideal item to reach areas that might be difficult to access with regular floss. However, waterpiks may not be able to clear all food particles or plaque stuck on the teeth and braces. For this reason, waterpiks are complementary to flossing. Nonetheless, they are valuable and can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Dental Tape

Another alternative to flossing, which is equally effective, is dental tape. Flossing with braces can be difficult, especially for people who didn't make it a part of their everyday routine to begin with. People with more sensitive gums will also have trouble with bleeding gums. Dental tape is an ultrathin floss that is smooth and spongy. It is not only thinner than typical dental floss but also much wider, which helps it glide between teeth more easily. Dental tape is used the same way as traditional floss.

Conclusion

Remember that maintaining proper oral hygiene is key for getting a beautiful smile. Wearing braces is only part of the job; the other part is keeping your teeth and braces clean. Brush your teeth at least twice per day and try to floss before bedtime. Flossing remains an important component in cleaning areas that are otherwise unreachable.