It can be a challenge to floss with braces, but it’s important to do so to keep your teeth healthy. In this blog post, we will discuss the best way to floss with braces and provide some tips for making the process easier. Keep reading for more information!
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Why Flossing With Braces Is Important?
Before we get into how to floss with braces, let’s discuss why flossing is so important. Here are a few reasons:
Flossing helps remove plaque from your teeth.
It’s difficult to brush your teeth properly with braces, so flossing is important for removing any plaque that may have been missed.
Flossing helps prevent gum disease.
Gum disease is a serious condition that can lead to tooth loss. Flossing helps remove the bacteria that cause gum disease and can help keep your gums healthy.
Flossing can help prevent cavities.
Cavities are caused by plaque that is not removed from your teeth. With braces, it can be difficult to brush all of the plaque away. Flossing helps remove any plaque that may have been missed and can help prevent cavities.
Now that we’ve discussed why flossing is so important, let’s talk about how to do it with braces!
How to Floss with Braces
Flossing with braces may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. The most important thing to remember is to be gentle; your braces are delicate and can be easily damaged if you are not careful. Here are the steps you need to follow:
1) Wet your floss and wind it around your middle finger.
2) Gently insert the floss between your teeth, being careful not to snag it on your braces.
3) Use a back-and-forth motion to clean the sides of your teeth.
4) When you reach the gum line, curve the floss around each tooth and gently slide it up and down.
5) Repeat this process for all of your teeth.
Tips To Make Flossing With Braces Easier
Now that you know how to floss with braces, here are a few tips to make the process easier:
Stay away from certain foods
When you have braces, there are some foods you should avoid eating in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Hard candy, nuts, and popcorn are all examples of foods that can damage your braces or get stuck in them, making it difficult to floss properly. Sticky foods like gum and caramels can also be problematic, as they can adhere to your teeth and make it harder to remove plaque. If you do eat sticky or hard foods, be sure to brush and floss thoroughly afterwards. This will help remove any food that may have gotten stuck in your braces.
Use waxed floss or dental tape
Using waxed floss or dental tape can help make flossing with braces easier. First, wind the floss around your middle finger, then slide it up and down between each tooth. You may need to use a back-and-forth motion to get the floss under the wire of your braces. Be sure to floss behind your back teeth as well. Rinse your mouth with water after you’re done flossing to remove any loose food particles.
Try a floss threader
Floss threaders are a great option for flossing with braces. This is because they allow you to floss under the wire of your braces without damaging them. To use a floss threader, first wet the floss and thread it through the eye of the needle. Then, insert the needle under the wire of your braces and pull the floss through. With the floss now on the other side of the wire, you can floss as normal. When you’re finished, be sure to remove the floss from your mouth and throw away the needle.
Wrapping it up
As you can see, flossing with braces is not as difficult as it may seem. By following the steps outlined above and using the tips we’ve provided, you can easily keep your teeth and gums healthy – even with braces! It’s important to remember to be gentle when flossing, as your braces are delicate and can be easily damaged. With a little practice, you’ll be a pro at flossing with braces in no time!
