Flossing is a very important part of the dental care routine. It helps in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. However, people with braces usually find it difficult to floss because the wires and brackets get in the way. Most people tend to give up on flossing until they have their braces removed because they make the process difficult and time-consuming. You don’t have to. These tips will help to properly floss your teeth with your braces on.
Tips For Proper Flossing With Braces
When you have braces, it becomes even more difficult to reach the hard-to-reach places in your mouth. This does not mean you have to give up on a routine that helps to preserve your dental health. Here are a few tips you can use to properly floss when you have braces.
Use Waxed Floss
Using the traditional unwaxed floss can cause the strands to get caught on the braces. Sometimes, they even get stuck in your mouth. If you have braces, using waxed floss will help you to floss smoothly so you won’t have to deal with floss residues.
Try a Floss Threader
Braces block your gums and teeth and get in the way of a proper floss. When you use a floss threader, you will be able to easily maneuver the floss between your teeth and behind the wires by pulling the floss through the threader. You can also use dental tape or ribbon floss, especially if you have gum soreness.
Use a Proxy Brush
The proxy brush is also known as an orthodontic brush. The brush has specially shaped bristles that can get under the braces to help clean in between the teeth. It enables you to remove food particles that are trapped between the braces and the teeth. You can also use water flossers instead of threads. Just because you have braces doesn’t mean you have to struggle with flossing. They are intended to improve your oral health and make it difficult to maintain. Call our office if you need recommendations on products to use for flossing with braces.
