Why floss with braces

Improve your smile and book an appointment! If you pull the floss down hard into the gum, you risk bruising. Floss gently by curving the floss around the base of the tooth in a C shape so the floss can get into the tooth pocket without causing any damage. If you have food stuck between your teeth or braces, you can use floss to help dislodge it. The most important part is that you floss, whatever the order. It only takes hours for plaque to harden on teeth.

Once plaque has hardened, it harbours more bacteria in the mouth and can lead to cavities. If you have questions about brushing or flossing your teeth, contact the clinic today and speak to one of our friendly dental therapists who will answer all your questions. At any of your appointments, we can give you another demonstration on how to brush or floss.

Persist with flossing as it takes a little time and patience with braces to become proficient. Why is Flossing So Important? Follow Our Steps Step 1 Brush your teeth to remove bacteria, food particles and plaque.

Step 2 Take a piece of floss around 20 cm long and wrap the ends around your index finger so you have a tight grip. Step 3 Line up the floss with the gap between your teeth and thread between the wire and your teeth. Step 4 Move the floss between the teeth, along the vertical sides of each tooth and into the movable gum tissue to remove any food particles and plaque build-up. Step 6 Move on to the next tooth and repeat the process.

Products Available for Flossing Teeth There are a few alternative products available on the market now for cleaning your interdental space, not just wax floss.

Dental Floss Most people are familiar with dental floss, it has been around for years. Interdental Brushes Interdental brushes have small bristles that make it easy to get in between teeth to remove food and plaque. Water Flosser A water flosser sprays water between the teeth to remove food. Flossing is essential to the health of your teeth and gums when you're wearing braces. Because braces may hold food, sugars and liquids upon eating, it is very important to keep on top of your brushing and flossing, as well as visiting our office for regular adjustments.

While we know it's tough enough to get kids to floss daily without braces, that battle becomes even tougher when braces are involved. Remember that by not flossing, you will become more prone to cavities and gum disease during your treatment. When flossing, remember to gently massage your gums in between the teeth. You will find that flossing with braces takes extra time, as you will have to weave the floss through each bracket.

When flossing, there should be no signs of blood. If you see blood, you are not flossing enough or properly. Using an electric toothbrush is also a good idea to massage your gums before or after flossing as electric toothbrushes can help remove any harmful bacteria that are lingering in your mouth.

Flossing helps remove excess food debris and plaque—the invisible film that builds up on your teeth and feeds on your tooth enamel causing tooth decay. The good news is, with a little practice and with the tools available, soon flossing with braces will be second nature to you. A helpful tool called a floss threader can assist you with the more traditional flossing with braces method.

When you are done with one tooth, remove the floss and repeat the process with the same floss threader. Floss picks are a popular product for many orthodontics patients. While they may be convenient, they are not as effective as regular floss. Floss picks do not allow you to reach all the necessary angles that normal floss can. Remember, the staff at Belmar Orthodontics is here to help you with flossing with braces so you are comfortable with the process.