Flossing with Braces

If you wear braces, you’ve already begun to invest in your dental health. But there’s more to maintaining a beautiful smile once you’re fitted. Flossing with braces is essential to keeping your teeth clean and strong through the duration of wearing the orthodontic device.

Wearing Braces and What Happens When You Don’t Floss

Every time you eat or drink, bacteria develop. Studies show that the lack of oral hygiene in orthodontics therapy results in an accumulation of plaque. Therefore, in addition to daily brushing, flossing to remove debris between teeth is necessary. That’s because food particles can hide in the crevices, and those areas are impossible to reach with just a toothbrush.

Without flossing with braces regularly, you’ll risk having:

• Gum disease
• Rotten teeth
• Smelly breath
• Yellow teeth

It is true that flossing with braces takes a little extra time to complete. It does get faster with practice, though. And once you’re finished with orthodontic treatment, your teeth will be straighter and in the correct formation. What’s more, they will be a breeze to clean.

Flossing with Braces: Here’s How It’s Done

Prepare your flossing method way ahead of time before you get your braces. You’ll need to work around the standard way of flossing because of the archwire of your braces. This wire attaches to the brackets located in front of each tooth. To make the flossing process effortless, use a floss threader. Follow the steps below when flossing with braces:

• Set aside some time at the end of the day, preferably before bedtime
• Thread the floss using the floss threader
• Angle the floss threader underneath the archwire of your braces besides the tooth that you want to floss
• Pull the floss threader all the way through and floss between the tooth in a “C” motion from the top to the bottom of the gumline
• Floss both the left and right sides of the tooth to remove food particles and bacteria.
• Repeat the process for each tooth

Alternatively, you’ll find special plastic flossers called Orthopicks. This type of orthodontic appliance slides right underneath the wire, and you can floss in record time. TIP: If you select to use a threader and dental floss, look for the waxed variety. It glides more easily.

Always Floss to Keep Your Smile Bright

When you’re caring for braces, flossing encourages a more successful outcome. Once they’re off, you’ll be glad you took the time to practice excellent dental hygiene. The routine you developed doesn’t stop there. Your new habit ensures that your smile lasts a long time.

Can I Floss With Invisalign®?

If you decide to straighten your teeth using Invisalign®, it is important to continue practicing excellent oral hygiene. It is much easier for Invisalign® patients to floss than it is for patients with regular metal braces. When you are ready to brush and floss, just remove your Invisalign® aligners and put them in a safe place while you brush and floss between teeth. It is important to avoid using toothpaste and mouthwash to clean your clear aligners; only use the cleaning solution provided by your dentist.

Make an Appointment With Ricci Orthodontics

At Ricci Orthodontics, we specialize in fitting braces for your entire family, including kids, teenagers, and adults. We also understand that with the expenditure of orthodontics, you want to obtain the most value. Flossing provides that extra benefit to your health and outward appearance.

Our services include:

• Braces for adults
• Braces for teens and children
• Metal, ceramic, lingual braces

Flossing with braces the right way makes your nightly dental hygiene routine simple. To learn more about braces and flossing, contact Ricci Orthodontics. Make an appointment today by calling [Direct].

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