Important Tips About Flossing with Braces

Wearing braces has enabled many individuals to align crooked teeth and regain their beautiful smiles. Cleaning teeth, however, can be a nightmare for people with braces because flossing and brushing methods have to change. If you do not properly clean your teeth, you are likely to experience bad breath and staining. The following tips will help you to floss properly and eliminate plaque when wearing your braces.

Switched to Waxed Floss

If you use non-waxed floss, you are likely to experience problems with the shreds of floss that are usually left behind. Patients who are wearing braces are advised to use waxed floss because it easily slips between the teeth for quality cleaning. You need to slide the waxed floss gently into the gum line to ensure that no traces of plaque or food particles are left.

Regular Cleaning from a Dental Hygienist

Scheduling regular cleaning sessions is a great way to avoid staining and bad breath. It is recommended that patients visit one of our hygienists at least once every three months. This will ensure that the teeth are deep cleaned and the dirt around the brackets is eliminated. It will make normal flossing even easier whenever you are doing it yourself.

Help Children with Flossing

Considering how difficult flossing can be for people with braces, it can cause bigger problems for children. In most cases, children who floss on their own don’t do it correctly, which can result in various dental problems. It is important for parents or guardians to help children do the flossing. This has to be done in a well-lit room to cover all the areas.

Use Appropriate Tools

Using the right cleaning tools is crucial whenever you want to eliminate food particles and plaque. For instance, you can buy an electric toothbrush because it works better than the manual brushes. An electric toothbrush also ensures that you use less effort and time to complete the cleaning.

Avoid Whitening Toothpaste

Although whitening pastes improve the appearance of your teeth, they might not be appropriate for use when wearing braces. This is because whitening products do not cover the parts under the brackets, which will make your teeth to have stained areas. You can always go back to such products after you have your brackets removed.

Follow the above tips to enhance quality flossing when wearing braces. If you or your children are in need of braces, or if you would like more information, contact M. Scott Runnels D.M.D., P.A. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics today!