Flossing with braces may not seem like the easiest thing in the world, but it’s absolutely necessary. You need to take good care of your teeth every day if you want the best result when your braces come off.
It would be a shame to spend so much time and money on fixing your bite and alignment only to realize you have yellow teeth or a bunch of plaque under your braces! Thankfully, learning how to floss when you have braces isn’t as hard as it sounds.
Here are the three things you need to do to floss with braces.
1. Learn How to Use a Floss Threader
It’s pretty much impossible to get a string of floss in between your teeth without a floss threader. This is a special tool that’s been specifically designed to help people with braces take care of their teeth.
A floss threader is like a flexible, soft needle that you use to guide your floss in between your teeth. You put the floss through the threader on one end and use the pointed end of the threader to stick it in between your teeth. Pull the threader through so you can grip the floss with both hands and move side to side as you normally would.
2. Make It a Habit to Floss Every Day
The thing about flossing with a threader is that it requires more time and patience than regular flossing. But, it’s too important to not do. Flossing helps reduce your risk of gingivitis and gum disease and it helps maintain healthy, white teeth.
Not to mention, you probably think that flossing takes more time than it actually does. It should only take about 5-10 minutes out of your day once you get the hang of flossing with braces. That’s a really small amount when you think of the long-term benefits.
3. Keep Tiny Brushing Tools on Hand
Keep in mind that using a threader isn’t the only way to floss when you have braces, especially if you’re out and about. If you have something stuck in between from lunch or you ate breakfast on the go, make sure you have a tiny dental brush handy.
These are the little tools dentists give you to get in between your teeth when brushing or as a travel tool. They’re not actually meant to brush your teeth, but they do a great job of getting under the wire of your braces and cleaning in between your teeth. These aren’t as effective as flossing, but they’re less time consuming and easier to do on the go.
Flossing with Braces Made Simple
Here’s something to consider about flossing with braces: the possibility of not having to deal with it at all!
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t floss when you’re undergoing orthodontic care. It just means there may be an alternative that fixes your smile and makes flossing easier – an alternative like Invisalign.
With Invisalign, you can take your frame out and floss like normal without having to worry about threaders or brushes. It’s not the right solution for everyone, but it could be ideal for you.
Click here to learn more about this kind of braces.