How to Floss With Braces

Surprisingly, one of the biggest problems that come with wearing traditional braces is how difficult it can be to floss. All those brackets, rubber bands, and wires in the mouth can make it extremely difficult to floss. It is so difficult and time-consuming that it is tempting to just skip flossing, but that is the last thing you should do. Here’s some insight on how to floss with braces.

What Can Happen if You Don’t Floss While Wearing Braces?

Flossing helps to remove food particles and plaque that builds up around your teeth and gums throughout the day. If those food particles and plaque are left to sit in the mouth it can encourage harmful bacteria to grow. That bacteria can cause a number of problems ranging from severe gum disease to cavities.

Avoiding dental problems isn’t the only reason why you need to floss when you are wearing braces. Another reason you need to floss regularly is that it can help you get your braces off faster.

Teeth tend to be easier to move when the gums are healthy. Flossing keeps the gums from becoming red, inflamed, and swollen which can cause difficulties with having the teeth move into their proper position. If you want to get your braces off in the timeframe your orthodontist or dentist gave you, it is important that you floss daily in order to keep your gums healthy.

Tips on How to Floss With Braces

Flossing with braces is going to be time-consuming, difficult, and sometimes frustrating. While flossing with braces will eventually get easier the more you do it, it will never be extremely easy.

Even though it won’t be extremely easy to floss, it doesn’t mean you have to spend months struggling to floss. There are a few tips and tricks you can use to make it easier to floss while wearing braces.

Some of the tips and tricks to make it easier on how to floss with braces include:

Always use a threader. A threader is like a needle. It can take a piece of dental floss and guide it around your brackets and wires. When you use a threader you won’t spend hours standing in front of the mirror struggling to get dental floss around your wires. You just use the threader to guide the floss where you want it to go then floss as you usually do.
Use a special dental brush. Food particles that get stuck behind the wires of your braces can be extremely difficult to get out with just the use of dental floss. Use a special dental brush to reach behind the wires and remove stuck food particles.
Use waxed floss. Waxed floss is easier to get between your teeth. Waxed floss also doesn’t shred which means small pieces of thread won’t be stuck between your teeth after you have flossed.
Plan enough time to floss. Never try to rush through flossing. Make sure you set aside enough time so that you can properly clean between your teeth and around your brackets.

Even Good Teeth Brushers Need to Floss Daily When Wearing Braces

It would be great if just brushing your teeth really good would be enough to keep your teeth and gums healthy while wearing braces, but it isn’t. Even the best teeth brushers need to floss daily.

Daily flossing is needed because brushing can’t remove the sticky plaque that builds up around your teeth, gums, and brackets. Flossing can remove that sticky film and keep your gums healthy and happy.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Dentist or Orthodontist How to Floss With Braces

Not sure if you are properly flossing while wearing braces? Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist or orthodontist for help and advice. Your dentist and Orthodontist in Ponte Vedra, FL will gladly answer any questions you have about flossing while wearing braces.

Have a specific question about how to floss with braces? Feel free to call Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our friendly dental staff will try to answer any questions. If we are unable to answer the question over the phone, we will schedule an office appointment. Call us today. We look forward to helping you!