How To Floss Effectively With Braces?

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If you wear braces, then we cannot stress enough how important it is to clean your mouth properly. Effective flossing is usually a challenge for the many braces wearers. You may be tempted to skip this step in your daily oral hygiene routine, but you should never neglect to floss as it is as important as brushing your teeth for maintaining your oral hygiene. Especially, when you have gaps in between your teeth and many vulnerable spots where food can get stuck easily.

When you are undergoing orthodontic treatment at a dental clinic in San Antonio, flossing is more important than ever. It helps get rid of food debris and plaque that builds upon the surface of your teeth. Besides, the brackets and archwires in your braces means flossing with extra care. However, the good news is that it is not as tricky as you are assuming. Let’s get down to some ways, tools, and tips to make flossing with braces a breeze.

Dental Braces

Simple Steps For Flossing With Braces Using Conventional Floss

Here are some simple steps that the general dentist in San Antonio advises to follow for effective flossing.

  1. If you are using traditional floss, use waxed floss. Wax coated floss slides smoothly in and out the spaces in between your teeth which means there are fewer chances of your floss getting stuck to the wires and brackets of your braces.
  2. Use a floss of about 12 to 18 inches in length
  3. Thread the floss gently behind the arch wires
  4. Hold the ends of the floss thread in each hand. Now, secure the grip by wrapping the floss around your index finger
  5. Move the floss gently in between your teeth, cleaning the vertical sides of your teeth. Complete a C around each tooth to thoroughly clean your tooth.
  6. Curl the used floss thread around your finger to avoid putting the germs back into your mouth

Tips To Make Flossing With Braces Simple

Rinse with water before brushing

Swishing with water after eating helps dislodge and loosen food that may be stuck in the braces. 

Brush well before flossing

Brushing helps loosen and remove some food particles that are in reachable areas. After brushing, it will be easy as you have to just remove the remaining food particles that were difficult to reach with your toothbrush.

Floss at least once in 24 hours

Flossing helps get rid of plaque that would otherwise harden and turn into tartar. In 24 to 36 hours, plaque will get hardened. So, it is advisable to floss at least once a day.

Use a fluoride mouthwash

After brushing and right before you sleep, rinse with a fluoride mouthwash to keep your teeth healthy and strong

Visit your dentist regularly

Do not miss your regular appointments with your orthodontist for ensuring your braces and teeth are in good shape

If flossing with a traditional floss is not much convenient, you could shift to alternatives like floss threader, water flosser, floss picks, and proxy brushes. 

For more extensive information regarding cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio TX, feel free to get in touch with our team.

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