Braces can make caring for your teeth a difficult task – especially when it comes to flossing. It’s tricky enough getting to all the nooks and crannies of your mouth when you don’t have an appliance fitted to your teeth – so here are some tips that might make things a bit easier…
- Use a floss threader – these are small plastic needles that can weave in and out of the wires of your brace and your teeth. You’ll need to thread a piece of floss measuring around 12-18 inches in length, using the needle to get the floss behind the wires of your brace.
- Floss meticulously under the wires – use your hands to move the floss around your mouth in order to clean thoroughly. This will help remove food particles from between your teeth. Be sure to use a new piece of floss for each section of your mouth.
- Use a proxy brush or water pik after brushing. These will help get rid of stray food particles.
- Look to spend more time flossing with your braces on than when you would if you didn’t have them on (an average of three times more). Braces make it difficult to reach the bacteria and food that builds up between your teeth.
- Use waxed floss, as unwaxed floss is more likely to get stuck in your braces and shed).
- Floss gently to avoid bleeding gums.
Maintain A Healthy Hygiene Routine
If you need advice on how to maintain a healthy oral health routine, do not hesitate to ask your dentist at Arden House, who will offer friendly advice and tips on how to achieve this. Once your braces are off, try not to be tempted to let your hygiene routine slacken. It’s important to clean your teeth thoroughly for your oral health as well as your overall health.
