Many lifestyle changes must be made when you have braces, from the type of food you eat to the time you spend caring for your teeth. It’s important to give your braces the proper care so that they can do their job effectively, and you will want to give your teeth a little extra attention as well.
One thing that often gets forgotten with braces is flossing. It’s challenging to floss with braces, and many people simply stop doing it. Today, Dr. Harrison of Parkcrest Dental offers some helpful tips for effective flossing with braces.
Traditional Flossing
For most people without braces, traditional flossing is the simplest solution. However, when you have braces, the process can be much more time-consuming. For starters, you can’t use individual flossing tools because your brackets will get in the way. So, old-fashioned dental floss is really the only way to go, even though it is a little more difficult. When flossing with braces, thread the floss through the wire on the teeth you are flossing, then wrap the floss around your fingers and proceed normally.
Braces will make traditional flossing take a little bit longer, but it is still a simple and straightforward process. Check in with Dr. Harrison during your next visit to discuss the best traditional flossing solutions.
Related Post: A Simple Guide To Flossing
Water Flossing
If you are struggling with traditional flossing and you want to go a different route, you can always look to water flossing. A Waterpik isn’t all that expensive and makes cleaning the hard to reach places easier than with traditional flossing. Water flossing will make the process faster and can be more effective than traditional flossing for those with braces.
If you need a Waterpik and you would like recommendations, Dr. Harrison can help you find the right one. He can also help you decide whether water flossing is best for your unique orthodontic situation.
Related Post: Which Flossing Tool is For You?
Stay Consistent
Dental hygiene can be frustrating with braces, especially when it comes to things like flossing. Even if you stay away from foods like candy and popcorn, daily flossing can still be frustrating. It’s important to remain consistent, even if it takes more time or seems less effective. It’s easy to stop caring about dental hygiene with braces, but that is a significant mistake for your dental health. If you need help knowing how to stay consistent with your dental hygiene habits with braces, Dr. Harrison can give you some tips.
Contact Dr. Harrison For More Tips On Flossing
If you have braces and you are struggling with flossing, Dr. Harrison is here to help. For more information and advice, give Parkcrest Dental a call at (417) 887-1220 or contact us online today.
