Flossing is a vital part of your daily dental routine, but braces can make flossing a challenging and time-consuming activity. Although difficult at first, daily flossing removes food stuck behind your wires, cleans places where your toothbrush cannot reach and helps prevent gum disease. To floss with your braces, you will need a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss threader, and waxed floss. Follow these steps from Parkcrest Dental Group to successfully floss with your braces.
Brush your teeth
At Parkcrest Dental Group, we recommend that before you begin flossing, be sure to remove any elastic bands from your braces and carefully brush your teeth. Cleaning your teeth before flossing removes any plaque or food particles on the surface of your teeth and braces, making the flossing process easier.
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Thread the floss
To begin flossing, take a long piece of floss and thread it through the eye of the floss threader. Be sure to use waxed floss because it is less likely to get stuck between your teeth than non-waxed floss. Next, take the pointed end of the floss threader and pull it under the wire of your braces.
Floss
After you’ve pulled the floss under the wire of your braces, floss like normal by moving the floss up and down between the gums and the wire. Afterwards, pull the floss out over the wire your braces and repeat the process between each set of teeth.To ensure you are using clean floss, you may need to change out of the floss a few times. After flossing, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash and check in the mirror for any food particles left between your braces.
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Using a Hydro-Floss
Because flossing with traditional floss can be time-consuming, some patients at Parkcrest Dental Group choose to purchase a hydro-floss. Using pressurized water, a hydro-floss removes plaque and food particles between the wires of your braces faster and easier than traditional flossing methods. In your next visit, feel free to talk to your dentist at Parkcrest Dental Group about using a hydro-floss.
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Come to Parkcrest Dental Group for Your Dental Needs
Getting used to your life with braces is not easy, but at Parkcrest Dental Group, we are happy to help you along the way. With braces, simple tasks, like flossing, require patience and practice, but the benefits of daily flossing will pay off. Be sure to talk to your dentist in Springfield, MO about any problems you are experiencing with flossing and the possibility of purchasing a hydro-floss. Contact Parkcrest Dental Group today to set up an appointment!
