When you get new braces, learning new oral hygiene practices can be time-consuming at first. Once you learn how to floss with braces it does get easier. Even though you are already adept at flossing, learning how to thread floss around the wires on your teeth can be tricky.
The technician gave you a brief how-to demonstration when you got your braces, but we know that many people don’t pay much attention. Your mouth was sore. You were probably tired from the installation procedure. Everything is so new. We understand, so we created this guide with step-by-step instructions to help.
The Importance of Flossing with Braces
Floss, floss, floss. It seems like everyone is always talking about how important it is to floss. Unfortunately, they often skip the part about WHY it is important to floss, especially with braces. Understanding why it is so important often makes the chore of flossing less of a burden.
Flossing normally takes a few minutes without braces. With braces, at least at first, it may take 10 to 15 minutes. Once you get familiar with the procedure, your speed will improve.
The main reason that flossing is important is that it promotes healthy teeth and gums. Braces may hold food, including sugars and liquids. Because of the brackets and wires, if those food and drink particles are not removed they could accelerate cavity growth and gum disease.
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Not flossing enough can also cause bleeding gums which can lead to tenderness of the tissue and pain. Nobody likes a sore mouth, right? Flossing should be done at least once per day. Although we would love our patients to floss after every meal, we understand that isn’t a reasonable request. An interproximal brush can be useful to clean under wires and around brackets.
Handy Tools to Floss with Braces
Just like maintaining a bicycle or a car, it is a much easier task if you have the correct tools. For flossing with braces, there are several handy tools that you should add to your tool kit:
- Floss threaders and floss
- Interproximal (or interdental) brush
- Dental tape (optional substitute for floss)
- Toothpicks
You should also have a good toothbrush and a good, non-whitening toothpaste available.
Floss is self-explanatory. An interdental brush is a tiny brush that can slide along your brackets under the archwire to dislodge stubborn food particles. Likewise with toothpicks. Although you don’t want to be too aggressive with a toothpick, they can be instrumental in keeping your teeth, brackets, and wires clean.
Making a Portable Care Kit
Just as important as flossing is taking proper care of your appliances. Although our recommendations here are looking at general-purpose care, they also include flossing supplies. First, find a small bag or pouch to keep your kit clean and dry. A quart-sized plastic zipper bag will work in a pinch. Next, assemble the following:
- Spare floss and floss threaders
- Toothpicks
- Interdental brush
- Dental wax
- Small, clean nail clippers
- Clean tweezers
- Wooden pencil with clean, unused eraser
As you go about your daily routine, having this tiny tool kit in your backpack, briefcase, or purse can be a lifesaver!
Step-By-Step Guide — How to Floss with Braces
With normal dental flossing, it is fairly easy to thread the floss between your teeth and gently work it down to the gum line. When you have traditional metal braces or clear braces, the archwire stops the floss from reaching the gum line.
Although threading the floss below the archwire is the solution, the threading can be a problem. Enter the handy-dandy floss threader! This magical little tool makes it much easier to thread floss beneath the archwire to allow flossing to the gum line. It works similarly to your grandma’s sewing needle threader.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Using a Floss Threader
Start with a piece of floss approximately 18 to 24 inches long.
- Thread the floss strand through the floss threader, leaving a short end at around 5 inches
- Insert the threader under your archwire, guiding it to the space between two teeth
- Remove the threader (leaving the floss) and floss from the archwire to your gum line
- Be sure to floss along the edges of all teeth
- Rethread the floss threader and repeat to floss between all your teeth
For the spaces from the archwire to the tops of your teeth, you can floss normally or use a pre-threaded floss stick.
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Floss threaders are available at most retail outlets that sell toothbrushes. They are inexpensive and disposable. Use a new threading tool each time you floss. Once you have finished flossing, dispose of it properly. Once you get used to using a floss threader, the time it takes to floss with braces will grow shorter.
Using a Water Flossing Device
Water flossing devices use a directed stream of water to flush debris from between teeth and along the gum line. Although using a Waterpik® or similar water flossing device may seem like an easy way out, we should note that it is not a substitute for flossing. Rather, using a water flossing device should be considered a supplement to regular manual flossing.
How to Use a Water Flossing Device
Water flossing devices work similarly regardless of the brand you have. You may need slight adjustments to the following instructions:
- Fill the water reservoir with lukewarm water
- Insert the tip into the spray handle
- Begin with low pressure, place the tip in your mouth (lean over the sink here… trust us)
- Turn the device on, with your lips closed around the tip to prevent splashing
- Work the tip around inside your mouth, aiming at the gum line
- Adjust the water pressure as necessary to remove debris
- Remove and clean the tip when finished and turn the machine off
Although water flossers are a very effective tool, they are not a replacement for regular flossing with braces.
Contact Lasley Orthodontics if You Have Questions
If you have additional questions about how to floss with braces, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at Lasley Orthodontics. Our entire staff is always eager to assist patients with questions, problems, or to offer tips and tricks.
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