Oral hygiene is very important when you have braces.

If you have decided to straighten your teeth with the help of braces, you’ll know that it is very important to practice proper oral hygiene throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment. Getting rid of plaque and germs will help to keep your teeth clean and free from issues like decay and stains. Besides brushing your teeth regularly, it is also essential that you floss on a daily basis as many areas of the mouth are hard to reach with a toothbrush alone. Read on to find out how to floss with braces in order to maintain your oral health…

How to use traditional floss

If you choose to use traditional floss to get rid of food particles and plaque from between your teeth, be sure to take your time. In fact, each time you floss your teeth, you should take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete the process. Use a fairly long piece of dental floss — 45 to 60 centimetres is ideal. Begin by threading the dental floss between the main wire of your braces and your teeth, wrapping the ends of the floss around your index fingers. Gently move the floss up and down between two teeth and all the way to the gumline. When removing the floss, gently unthread it from behind the wire being careful not to knock the wire out of the bracket. Move to the next two teeth and repeat the process until you have cleaned between all of your teeth.

If you have particularly sensitive gums, you might consider using dental tape instead of floss. Dental tape tends to be smooth and wide and moves between the teeth very easily. It can be used in the same way as dental floss.

How to use a water flosser

A water flosser, or oral irrigator, is a tool that is designed to clean between the teeth and along the gumline with the help of water. Water comes out in a steady stream and cleans the mouth very efficiently and quickly. Most water flossers only take around five minutes to thoroughly clean between the teeth. Some water flossers are designed especially for use during orthodontic treatment.

If you choose to use a water flosser, you’ll need to fill the device with water before placing the tip of the flosser into your mouth. Turn the device on and move the stream of water along your gumline and between each of your teeth.

How to use a floss threader

Another effective way to floss the teeth is to use a floss threader, which is a small, plastic tool that is easy to use with braces. To use a floss threader, simply pull a piece a floss through the eye of the tool and insert the needle under the wire of your braces. Pull the floss through the wire and gently move it between two teeth. When you are done, remove the floss from between the teeth and pull it out from behind the wire. Rethread the floss threader and repeat the process until you have cleaned between all of your teeth.

How can we help?

At Dream Smiles, we offer a range of orthodontic treatments and our team is available to offer advice and tips when it comes to maintaining your oral health. For a full list of the orthodontic solutions that we offer, please have a look here.

If you are ready to make an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.