Brushing and flossing your teeth with braces doesn’t need to be hard; most importantly, it doesn’t need to be uncomfortable. As you follow these tips every day, it will become easier and easier, and you’ll feel a lot less discomfort when you floss.
We all know that you’re flossing your teeth (and brushing them) for the same reason that you’re getting braces: you want to have a winning smile. So it makes sense that if you’re already going to the trouble of doing the big thing–getting braces–then the little things like brushing and flossing your teeth should become second nature.
But what’s the best way to floss with braces?
Floss After Every Meal
Yes, we know that it seems like a pain that you have to floss after every meal–can’t it just be left this once? But the truth is that flossing after every meal is extremely important to make sure that your braces do their job. Food can get stuck in your teeth when you don’t have braces, and food’s much more likely to get stuck when you do. So, every time you eat, you need to floss.
Fortunately, there are special ways to get between the teeth and into the braces. These are floss threaders or special orthodontic flosses, which are different from traditional flossing.
With orthodontic floss, you thread the floss behind the braces brackets and wires, grab the end, wrap it around your fingers (as you’d normally do with floss), and slide the floss between each set of teeth. This cleans between teeth to remove food that brushing your teeth can’t reach.
It may sound hard to go to this much trouble, but trust us: once you get the hang of it, after a few weeks, you’ll be a pro at flossing while wearing braces.
The Benefits of Flossing With Braces
The benefits of flossing while you have braces are much the same as those of flossing without braces–only more pronounced. Dental floss cleans food debris from your teeth, which can lead to cavities and gum diseases, and food debris is typically caught just in your teeth. Adding a whole new set of obstacles–all those wires–into the mix will make it easier for food to get stuck and for dental problems to arise.
The good news is that if you use the right type of floss, it doesn’t take much more than a single piece of floss to clean your whole mouth in just a few minutes. Pulling the floss (typically waxed floss) with your index fingers will clear out most of the debris and boost overall oral health.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, maintaining oral hygiene while wearing braces doesn't have to be a daunting task. Armed with the right tools like floss threaders or orthodontic floss, and incorporating the habit of flossing after every meal, you can ensure that your path to achieving that winning smile is smooth and healthy. Although it might seem like a chore at first, remember that every effort you put into flossing and brushing with braces is a step towards a healthier mouth and a brighter smile. Embrace the process, and soon enough, flossing with braces will become as natural as breathing. Keep in mind the significant benefits of keeping your teeth and braces clean, and let this motivate you to maintain impeccable oral hygiene. Your future self will thank you when you unveil a smile that's not only straight but also sparkling clean.
