How To Floss With Braces: A Complete Guide
Keeping your teeth clean is an essential part of the straightening process, so let's properly find out how to floss with braces
Brushing and flossing your teeth are super important for your dental health. When you are straightening your teeth with braces, it is even more essential that you stick to a consistent brushing and flossing plan. However, flossing with braces can prove to be a challenge for some. It can be difficult and time consuming to thread floss or flossing tools through your metal braces and really get a good cleaning. Thankfully, there are several ways to floss your teeth while wearing braces. We’ll be breaking down how to floss with braces no matter which method you prefer. Let’s get started so you can find the best way to floss with braces.
The Traditional Method for Flossing With Braces
Grab a long piece of floss because we’re about to discover how to floss with braces
Flossing with braces can be difficult, but most get the hang of it after flossing every day.
First, we’re going to get into the ways you can floss with traditional, run-of-the-mill dental floss while wearing braces. This is definitely the most accessible and common method, but it can be challenging to get the technique right the first few times you floss with braces.
When first learning how to floss with braces, it is best to give yourself a good amount of time. You don’t want your first try to be rushed or you could miss some spots or accidentally cut your gums. We recommend allowing about 10 minutes to fully floss around your braces, but as you get more comfortable flossing won’t take quite as long. It is also important to pay attention to the type of floss you are using. You should always use waxed floss so it can move easily around your teeth and braces. Now that you’ve got your floss in hand, it's time to break it down step by step:
Cut a long piece of floss - somewhere between 20 and 30 inches
Carefully thread the floss between your teeth and braces
Get a good grip on your floss by wrapping the floss around your fingers
Begin your regular flossing motion, making sure to pay attention to both sides of your teeth
Be careful when removing the floss from your teeth; if you pull out the floss too rapidly, it could loosen your metal braces
Repeat until you have reached every tooth in your mouth
Though this is the most popular way to floss your teeth with braces, it is not necessarily the quickest or easiest. Let's find out what other methods are out there and how they work.
Try Using a Floss Threader If You’re in a Hurry
Floss threaders are perfect for people on the go or those who don’t want to hassle with threading floss by hand
Save time each day by using a floss threader.
Floss threaders are excellent little inventions that expedite the flossing process. Without a floss threader, you could end up spending upwards of 10 minutes a day flossing your teeth. Thats 10 minutes earlier you have to get up in the morning! If you are searching for a method to cut down that time, floss threaders are the tool for you. Take the same 20-30 inch piece of floss and put it through the threader. Then, place the plastic needle shaped part of the threader under your metal braces and pull the floss through the wire. And there you have it! Your floss is easily and quickly threaded around your braces, saving you precious time.
Interdental Brushes Are a Great Option for Cleaning Teeth Around Braces
If you are having trouble with flossing, or experiencing gum sensitivity, try interdental brushes for plaque removal
Interdental brushes can really help cleaning your metal braces by cleaning plaque off the metal parts.
If you are struggling with floss, or are just on the go and need a quick clean, interdental brushes can really come in handy. Interdental brushes are thin, pointed and covered with very small bristles. These brushes are small enough to fit in between your teeth, gums, and braces to remove any plaque that may be lingering after brushing with a toothbrush or after a meal.
To use an interdental brush, you should place the brush between your teeth and underneath the metal braces and then gently move the brush back and forth to remove plaque. These brushes are also good for those with sensitive gums as floss can sometimes cut into your gums and cause lasting discomfort. Another great thing about interdental brushes is that they come in different sizes, so you can find the best fit for your teeth.
Water Flossers Get The Job Done
If you are able to make the investment, water flossers are the easiest way to floss your teeth while wearing braces
Water flossers cut down on flossing time and allow you to multitask.
If you’ve never used a water flosser before getting braces, now is the time to seriously consider purchasing one. Using a water flosser is fast, easy, and effective at removing unwanted plaque from between your teeth. Water flossers work by spraying water between the teeth to clear out any plaque. They are fairly similar to the types of water spraying tools orthodontists use to clean your teeth during a regular check up. Though regular floss is just as effective at cleaning your teeth, it is far more labor intensive and time consuming. So, If you need a fast and easy way to floss, a water flosser could be the right choice for you.
If you are concerned about flossing with braces and haven’t begun your treatment yet, you might consider a choice between Invisalign vs Braces. Both methods are effective at straightening your teeth, but the choice comes down to your personal treatment needs. One convenience of Invisalign is the ability to remove your aligners when brushing and flossing your teeth, taking the inconvenience of proper hygiene out of the equation entirely. If you are making the choice for your child, hygiene questions are appropriate to ask your kids orthodontist so you can make the best decision for treatment.
If you have questions about how to floss with braces or your continued oral health, you can always contact Legacy Orthodontics for more information about keeping your braces clean. Remember, improving your smile is a process and you need to take extra special care of your teeth while wearing braces.