Tips on Flossing With Braces

Everyone knows that flossing is important. Nevertheless, it is a habit that many people let fall by the wayside—especially when they have braces. While this is understandable (there are definitely new challenges when it comes to flossing with braces), these challenges should not get in the way of you keeping your teeth and gums healthy. That said, here are some tips and tricks to make it easier for you to floss with braces.

If you are frustrated trying to get floss into hard-to-reach areas, a floss threader will become your best friend. A floss threader is a thin, pointy piece of plastic with a noose around the end. The idea is that you can thread the floss through the noose and then insert the pointy part of the threader in between your teeth. This tool helps you get the floss up along the sides of each tooth without it getting caught in the wires of your braces. If you don’t have a threader, your dentist is more than likely to have some on hand to offer you.

If traditional floss still isn’t working for you and your braces, it might be time to invest in a water flosser. A water flosser uses a jet of water to remove trapped food in between your teeth, as well as gunk that might have gotten lodged in your brackets. Given the relative ease of a water flosser compared to traditional floss, a water flosser may better help you develop a daily habit of flossing. And anything that helps you floss more frequently—braces or no braces—is a winner!

In the end, flossing with braces isn’t always the most comfortable experience; it is common to experience gum irritation and bleeding while wearing braces. Nevertheless, flossing is more important than ever. So, if you do experience problems flossing, know that these irritations will eventually subside as long as you floss consistently. If they don’t, be sure to communicate with your dentist. 

Just as with any new habit, it takes more than just willpower to make flossing with braces part of your day-to-day routine. Success is much more likely when you actually create a system for yourself that you will be more likely to implement. Therefore, try a variety of flossing methods to see what is most comfortable and convenient for you. Then, as you apply patience and consistency, you will see that what once were challenging aspects of flossing with braces, exist no longer.

If you are struggling to floss with braces, your hygienist is there to help you. Click here to find out how South Temple Dental can help you keep your teeth clean, particularly if you have braces. 

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