Flossing With Braces: How Is It Done?

Has your child recently gotten braces? Maintaining oral hygiene becomes even more important once you have braces because the lack of care can raise the risk of teeth and gum issues. For this reason, following proper brushing and flossing techniques is crucial. If your child or teen is having difficulty flossing with braces, we’ll share tips and techniques to make it easier!

Why is it So Important to Floss Your Teeth with Braces?

Flossing requires the use of a thin thread to gently clean the areas between your teeth and gums. Normally, saliva helps wash away some food particles and neutralizes acids in the mouth. However, there is a higher risk of plaque buildup when you have braces because the food remnants often get stuck between wires and brackets.

These hard-to-reach areas cannot be cleaned by brushing alone. This makes oral hygiene even more challenging for people with braces. If the food particles remain stuck, they may cause gingival irritation.

Flossing your teeth with braces once a day can help to clear away the food debris and plaque deposits. Brushing and flossing regularly also helps in keeping your wires and brackets clean.

How to Floss Your Teeth with Braces?

Conventional Flossing

Most people use a thin, wax-covered thread for flossing their teeth. Although the conventional technique of flossing seems easy to follow, it can be a little tricky for those with braces.

You can quicken the process of flossing by making use of a floss threader. This small tool helps easily slide the floss thread behind your braces wire. The steps to floss your teeth with braces are as follows:

• Cut out a piece of floss, about 18 to 24 inches.
• Thread one end of the floss through the eye of the floss threader and hold the other end with your fingers. 
• Now gently slide the floss threader behind the main wire. It will allow the floss to pass smoothly, which may take longer if you try to do it with your fingers. 
• Once the floss thread is in place, hold both its ends between your fingers and slide it up and down. Curve it into a C-shape and gently slide it along the gum line.
• After completing, gently pull the floss thread from behind your teeth.
• Insert a new thread again in the floss threader to clean the next set of teeth. 

Flossing Using Waterpik

Waterpik is a modern technology that releases a very thin stream of water to clean the areas between your teeth and gums.

Compared to traditional flossing, Waterpik is easier and more fun for kids who find it difficult to use a floss thread. The steps to floss your teeth with a Waterpik flosser are as follows:

• Fill the water reservoir of the device with water. Adding a splash of mouthwash can give you antibacterial benefits.
• Place the tip of the water flosser and turn it on. Adjust the water pressure to a comfortable level.
• Next, lean over your sink to avoid spilling water. Guide the water stream along your gum line and the areas around each bracket.
• You can take a break in between to spit out the excess water.

Final Words

Flossing teeth may look like a big challenge at first, especially for kids and teens with braces. But just with a little practice, it can become a fun part of daily oral care.If your child is having trouble flossing their teeth with braces, reach out to our dentists at Aquario Dental and Braces for live demos and tips. Schedule an appointment at our Wayside Drive or West Little York office today!