At Eastern Virginia Orthodontics, we’re proud to create beautiful and healthy smiles for patients of all ages in and around Chesapeake. Our expert team of orthodontists provide exceptional treatments from braces to Invisalign. It’s our goal to make the orthodontic experience as comfortable and seamless as possible, which is why we educate our patients on how to best care for their smiles during treatment and beyond.
It’s common knowledge that flossing is important. However, wearing braces means it’s all the more necessary to stay on top of your oral health. This is because braces make it very easy for food particles to get stuck in and around your teeth, especially in tight places you can’t reach. We know that flossing can be more difficult with braces, but with practice and a few simple tips, you’ll be flossing like a pro in no time. Here’s how to do just that:
How To Floss With Braces
Your doctors at Eastern Virginia Orthodontics will recommend and provide you with a special orthodontic floss that is best to use with braces. We’ll also show you how to floss and provide instructions to help you do so at home.
To floss effectively, first thread the floss under your archwire and wrap the ends around the pointer fingers of both hands. Keep a few inches of floss pulled taut between your fingers. Gently glide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Be sure to get sides of each tooth and beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Complete this process for all of your teeth.
Your Chesapeake orthodontist recommends that you floss after every meal so that food doesn’t have a chance to turn to bacteria and plaque does not build up.
Special Flossing Tools
Thankfully, there are many special tools designed to make flossing with braces easier.
- A floss threader allows you to easily work the floss between your archwires with the simple push of a button.
- A proxy brush is an excellent tool that you can use to manually work between your braces and get at the places you would otherwise miss. It looks similar to a pipe cleaner and is very easy to use.
- Finally, a water flosser can be very helpful in providing a thorough clean. This tool shoots tiny streams of water between tight spaces and corners to remove leftover food particles and plaque. While a water flosser can’t take the place of normal flossing, it’s a very handy tool to use if you want to ensure excellent oral hygiene.
Contact Eastern Virginia Orthodontics!
At Eastern Virginia Orthodontics, we’ve helped countless patients achieve their dream smiles, and we’d love to do the same for you! Book an appointment today to get started with a consultation. If you have further questions on flossing with braces, we’re here to help. Just reach out to us at any of our three locations, and we’ll be happy to provide any assistance. We can’t wait to give you the smile of your dreams!