How to Floss with Braces – A Step-by-Step Guide with Proper Flossing Tools
Not all of us are born with teeth in perfect alignment. Braces are the most common dental appliance used by dentists and orthodontists. So, if you’re one of the many millions worldwide who wear braces, you may wonder how to floss with braces.
Well, wonder no more! This blog post will look at the best way to floss with braces, complete with a step-by-step video tutorial. Let’s get started!
Topics Covered
What is proper flossing, and why flossing with braces is important?
Flossing may seem to be a very dull task, but It is important to floss regularly, and one should not skip flossing even for a day.
When cleaning the surface of your teeth, people sometimes get bad habits or overlook the importance of flossing. Brushing your teeth and using dental rinses and toothpaste is the best way to keep your teeth clean, but flossing is a key.
Brushing and flossing are crucial to keeping your smile healthy and beautiful, but it’s even more critical after braces. Flossing after braces lets you reach areas that toothbrush bristles can’t, and it can also prevent debris from getting stuck behind wires and brackets.
Proper flossing is vital after braces because food usually gets stuck between the brackets, wires, and your teeth. This debris can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and plaque build-up.
Use a piece of un-waxed dental floss slightly larger than the space between your set of teeth. Wrap the floss around each of your index fingers, leaving about 2 inches of floss between the hands. Gently slide the floss under your archwire, and then gently curve the floss around the side of every tooth. This is one of the method that is done using wax-covered dental floss.
You tend to eat your favourite snack but you regret it later as the tiny particles get stuck in between your braces and wires. This is where flossing comes into picture.
Check out: What Chips can you eat with Braces?
How braces affect proper flossing
Braces don’t allow your teeth and gums line to be as clean as they would be without braces. This can lead to more plaque building up, which can cause cavities and gingivitis.
This is because your teeth and gums may not be able to clean your braces as well as your toothbrush can. As a result, plaque may build up around your braces and form tartar. This can cause etching and staining around your teeth, eventually leading to cavities.
Plaque can also get trapped under your braces, which can cause soreness and irritation around your gums. This can also cause your gums to bleed more easily when you floss. This can make flossing painful and uncomfortable.
To avoid this, it’s recommended that you floss under and around your braces every day. You should make sure to use ADA-approved floss, which will clean your teeth more effectively. To floss between brackets and wires, an interdental brush or dental pick is also recommended.
Types of Floss
How to Floss using a Dental Tape
Dental tapes are an alternative used to flossing, which many people struggle to use correctly.
Dental tape is thinner than floss and works similarly to floss, but it is more accessible and easier to use.
After your brushing is complete, place a dental tape between two teeth and stretch it to cover the whole tooth behind the braces.
Then, push it gently between your teeth, ensuring it is pulled taut. If your teeth are not far apart, use your thumb and index finger to pull back the tape lightly.
Now, slide your dental tape diagonally across each tooth, gently push it between the teeth, and pull out the floss.
Repeat this process until your teeth are clean and you can call it the end of the floss!
How to Floss With Braces Using a Floss Threader
One of the most popular tools for flossing with braces is a “floss threader.” A piece of floss threader is a plastic tool with a hook on one end. The hook is designed to fit between your teeth and your braces so that you can floss easily without getting food stuck in your braces.
When choosing a floss threader, consider the size of your braces and the number of teeth you have. Generally, the larger the braces and the more teeth you have, the longer your threader will need to reach between your teeth.
How to Floss With Braces Using Superfloss
For people with braces, it can be difficult to manage regular floss when trying to clean their teeth. However, there is a product on the market called Superfloss.
To floss with braces, you need to use a superfloss with a wider base to fit between your teeth and your braces. This is the most effective method for flossing with braces.
How to Floss With Braces Using a Platypus Orthodontic Flosser
Just when you thought braces were a pain, along comes the Platypus Orthodontic Flosser, which might help make flossing with dental braces easier. The Flosser uses a soft hook and loop strap that attaches to your braces.
This strap wraps around the brace and wraps around the flosser. This helps keep the flosser from moving, which helps with keeping the floss from slipping through the bracket.
How to Floss With Braces Using a Harp Orthodontic Flosser
In addition to brushing your teeth, you should also floss daily. This helps to clean between teeth and is free from plaque buildup.
However, it can be difficult to floss properly when you have braces. Some types of floss can bend or damage wires and brackets and can cause irritation and inflammation.
Fortunately, you can floss with braces using a harp orthodontic flosser. This type of flosser uses a plastic or nylon “harp” that wraps around the braces, allowing you to remove the food particles between the teeth easily.
Here’s how to use a harp orthodontic flosser:
Insert the flosser’s handle between your teeth and align the flosser’s tip with your braces.
Hold the flosser’s handle, then pull the flosser away from your mouth.
As you pull the flosser out, the harp will wrap around the braces.
Repeat this process until your metal braces are clean – about 18-24 times.
How to Floss With Braces Using a Waterpik or oral irrigator or Water Flosser
Oral irrigators, or water flosser is a device. These devices help remove food debris and plaque that brushing can’t reach. Waterpik and Oral-B are two popular brands, but any brand will work.
If you have a Waterpik or other oral irrigator, you can floss with braces just like you usually would. However, you need to be careful when doing so.
- Before using a Waterpik with braces, consider these tips:
- Always floss with mouthwash:
- Check to make sure the reservoir is empty.
- Rinse your mouth with mouthwash.
- Brush back and forth.
- Fill the reservoir with water.
- Insert the Waterpik’s tip into your mouth and turn it on.
- Move the Waterpik’s tip in small, circular motions into the spaces between the teeth and gums.
- Pull the Floss gently, using only as much pressure as you need to.
- Move the Waterpik’s tip over the teeth, gums, and tongue for 20 seconds.
- When you have finished, rinse your mouth thoroughly with the stream of water and spit out the excess liquid.
First, fill the reservoir with water and attach the flosser to the unit. Then, insert the tip into your mouth (which can be uncomfortable if you have braces) and turn it on.
Where should you place the water tank?
Place the water tank below the reservoir. This ensures that the flosser is pointed downward, making it easier to floss.
How do you floss around brackets?
Place the tip on the bracket and turn it on. The flosser gently slides the floss between your teeth, removing the plaque and bacteria.
How long should you floss with braces?
Floss for 30 seconds.
How do you floss between teeth?
Place the tip between two teeth, turn it on, and slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth.
How do you floss between teeth with braces?
Place the tip between two teeth, turn it on, and slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth.
How do you floss between braces?
Place the flosser’s tip on the bracket, turn it on, and slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth.
How do you floss with braces and wire?
Place the tip on the wire, turn it on, and slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth.
How do you floss with braces and braces?
Place the tip on the brace, turn it on, and slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth.
Tips for traditional flossing around braces
Everyone has heard dentists recommending flossing, but it’s essential to floss when you have braces.
The goal of flossing is to remove food particles that are stuck in tight spaces between the wire of your braces. Effective flossing requires careful technique and good dexterity. If you have braces, there are two problems you will face:
Getting the floss between the brackets: Getting floss between your braces can be a difficult task. Flossing alone does not remove plaque and food particles, and while special floss picks and oral irrigators can help, you still need to get the floss between the brackets.
Flossing the brackets: Once the floss is in between the braces, you need to floss the brackets themselves. This is easier said than done, and while most people can floss between their teeth, I have found that floss behind the brackets is a significant accomplishment.
A guide to flossing techniques with different types of braces
When flossing, it’s essential to have the right tools for the job, especially if your braces are metal or ceramic.
Some braces are more accessible to maneuver than others, so you may need to experiment with several types until you find one that works with your kind of mouth.
When choosing your floss, look for the American Dental Association’s seal of approval. The ADA tested these flosses and found them to be the most effective.
The most effective types of floss to use are:
Waxed floss: This type of floss is 50% wax and 50% nylon, which helps make it more pliable. It also glides between teeth more quickly than unwaxed floss.
Satin floss: This floss comprises 75% nylon and 25% polyester.
PTFE floss: This floss is very thin and slides between teeth easily. It’s less likely to fray, which makes it easier to handle than other types of floss.
If you’re wearing braces, you’re probably aware of how crucial regular brushing and flossing is for preventing cavities and gum disease. Unfortunately, braces can make it more difficult to floss, so it’s important to know what type of braces you have and how to pick the right flossing products.
Braces can be placed along the front of the teeth, on the back, or both. Because most braces are placed on the front teeth, flossing with that part of your braces will likely be more difficult.
– If you’re wearing Damon Clear braces, their slots make removing food particles and plaque easier. However, it will still be essential to have an essential tool called a floss threader available so that you can thread the floss along the Damon Clear wires.
– If you’re wearing Invisalign, the trays can be removed, making it easier to move the floss. However, it is recommended that you use a floss threader or floss threader-like device to thread the like floss under the trays.
– If you’re wearing traditional braces, you can use a floss threader, floss threader-like device, or floss threader with braces. For conventional braces, you can also use a dental flosser, which you can attach to your braces using a rubber band.
– If you’re wearing lingual braces that go behind your teeth, flossing will be more difficult. However, you can still be proactive and use a floss threader with braces, a floss threader-like device, or a floss threader with lingual braces.
– If you’re wearing Damon braces, you can still use floss threaders. Take a piece of floss However, because Damon Clear braces are made of transparent, flexible materials, floss threads are more difficult to get under them.
– If you’re wearing Invisalign, you can floss by first using a toothpick to clean out any leftover food particles and plaque. Then
Oral health care – how to take care of your teeth when you’re wearing braces
If you wear orthodontics braces, brushing your teeth can be challenging. But don’t worry, you can take care of your teeth and braces in many ways.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Brush your teeth gently. You probably know that you need to brush and floss with traditional methods twice a day, but brushing more aggressively can wear down the enamel on your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and brush gently.
Buy a fluoride mouthwash. One treatment option is applying fluoride to your braces. If you opt for a fluoride mouthwash, make sure that you follow the directions for the length of time the mouthwash should remain in contact with the teeth.
Keep a toothbrush handy. The hardest thing for patients to remember is brushing with braces their teeth, so always keep a small travel-sized toothbrush with you.
Consider using a water flosser. Water flossers are great for braces patients. These devices use water to clean teeth and shoot a jet of pressurized water between the teeth to dislodge food particles and bacteria.
Consider a fluoride rinse. Another way to clean your teeth is to rinse your mouth with fluoride.
Visit your dentist regularly. Your orthodontist can clean your teeth and ensure they are healthy, and your dentist can recommend the right dental products for your treatment.
How to Clean Between Dental Appliances
When cleaning between dental appliances, it’s important not to use toothpaste or mouthwash. The alcohol in these substances can dissolve the plastic, making the appliance more likely to leak.
Instead, use warm water and soap. If possible, use a soft toothbrush, and rinse thoroughly.
How to Clean Your Tongue when you have braces
Eating snacks
Braces can cause your braces to trap food residue. As a result, it’s common for people to have bad breath and stained or yellowed teeth while wearing braces. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for this issue:
Use a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers are a tool that helps you scrape off the food residue on your tongue. By doing so, you can get rid of bad breath and whiten your teeth simultaneously.
Brush your tongue. Brushing your tongue is another excellent way to get rid of food residue. You can use an electric toothbrush or a toothbrush with a small head.
Conclusion:
Now that you know how to floss with braces, you may want to add them to your list of essentials. Good oral hygiene starts with proper brushing and flossing your teeth. I hope this article was helpful – let us know how your flossing is going in the comments below!
