Flossing with Braces

Orthodontics patients don’t get to take a break from flossing. In fact, it’s even more important for people wearing braces to floss thoroughly to keep their teeth clean and their gums healthy.

The orthodontic wires prevent patients from inserting the floss at the top of the tooth and sweeping it downward all the way to the gum line. Instead, people with braces must start at the bottom of the tooth and come up to clean the lower half of the tooth and the gum line. However, getting the floss through the narrow gaps between teeth can be a challenge.

Fortunately, an inexpensive tool known as a floss threader can help orthodontics patients in this daily hygiene task. The threader is a small piece of plastic with a loop at one end and a tail at the other. The floss goes through the loop, and the tail is then woven between two teeth at the gum line. The tail is pulled through the two teeth and the floss then follows.

After the floss has been pulled through the teeth via the threader, the patient can use a typical flossing technique along the edges of the tooth and the gumline. The threading process must be repeated between every tooth, though, so flossing while wearing braces can take a little longer than normal.  While wearing braces, it’s also a good idea to floss—gently!—the immediate vicinity of the wires and the brackets to clear away any plaque that has accumulated in those areas.

Orthodontic treatment is a big investment toward a beautiful smile, so it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits to ensure that smile is a healthy one even after the braces come off. Contact your Frisco dentist for more information on proper care of you braces.