Floss Correctly While Wearing Braces
Brushing and flossing are important, even if you wear braces. A corrective appliance does not prevent tooth decay.
In fact, with braces, plaque and debris are more apt to become caught in the teeth and trapped between the spaces of the appliance. Nevertheless, many orthodontic patients may feel intimidated about flossing with braces.
Here are a few measures that people with braces can take to ensure that they are flossing correctly.
Use The Right Tools
Before receiving braces, dental patients may clean their interdental spaces using string floss alone. However, due to the configuration of the brackets and wires on the teeth, people with braces should add the use of a floss threader.
A floss threader is a small plastic tool that is shaped like a noose. The string floss is threaded through the device. The flexible threader is then used to guide the floss through the interdental spaces without affecting the brackets or wires.
Nevertheless, when using string floss with braces, it's important to guide the floss behind the braces before passing the threader between the teeth. If the threader is placed between the teeth first, without navigating behind the wires, the floss is likely to pull on the wires as you floss.
If you still find it difficult to navigate the floss around your braces, consider the use of an oral irrigator. The device allows you to floss with a concentrated stream of water instead of a string.
The irrigator includes a reservoir, a wand, and a pump. The device pumps water from the reservoir through the wand, allowing users to direct a stream of water between the teeth and around the braces. With many oral irrigation devices, the patient can control the force of the water flow.
Use Upward and Downward Motions
Although it may be tempting to floss by pulling the string back and forth in a sideways motion. With braces, it is best to move the floss up and down.
For people without braces, a sideways motion is unlikely to cause any problems. However, with the brackets and wires of the braces, moving the floss from side to side is likely to tug on the appliance and cause damage.
Set Aside Time to Floss
People with braces should be sure to set aside enough time to floss properly. Rushing the process can lead to ineffective flossing and appliance damage.
For more information on flossing properly with braces, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area, such as Dr. Jon Douglas Lesan, DDS, RpH, PA.
Share
