Hi, Carrie and Janet here with Crescent Orthodontics. Today we’re going to talk about flossing – specifically flossing with braces. Yes, even though you have braces on your teeth, you still need to floss in order to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Because of the brackets and wires on your teeth, however, you’re going to have to do it a little differently than when you don’t have braces on. You can’t just take a piece of dental floss and go between the teeth, pull it up under the gum line and floss, because the floss is going to get stuck on the arch wire and it won’t go up under the gums.
The easiest and most effective way to floss when you have braces is to use a floss threader. To use a floss threader, you take a piece of floss and thread it through the loop at the top of the floss threader. It’s sort of like threading a sewing needle. Next you’re going to take the end of the floss threader and push it between the archwire and your teeth. Then you’re going to pull one end of the floss all the way through the loop.
The floss is hanging over the wire now, but it’s also behind the wire so you can pull it up between your teeth and floss under the gum line. When you’re finished flossing one side of your tooth, pull the floss all the way out, re-thread your floss threader and repeat the process on the other side of your tooth. Keep repeating the process until you have flossed between all of your teeth.
We hope this video has been helpful but if you still have questions about how to floss your teeth with braces, please be sure to ask us at your next appointment – we’re here to help! You can also call the office if you have any questions.
Crescent Orthodontics is your hometown orthodontist proudly serving the South Lyon, MI community and surrounding areas. In addition to several braces treatment options, we also offer Invisalign and Invisalign teen as well as early orthodontic treatment. Call us today at 248-437-3377 or click to schedule your complimentary in-office or virtual consultation. We can’t wait to meet you!
