How To Floss With Braces - The Right Way

Posted on 11/11/2024

Braces from a Fountain City family orthodontist are a great way to achieve a healthy and beautiful smile; this is a process that can pose some challenges. For example, it's difficult to floss your teeth when you have braces on. However, you must keep your braces and teeth clean to protect the health of your teeth. If you're in search of assistance from an office of adult orthodontics in Knoxville, let us here at Myers Orthodontics talk to you about some of the ways you can properly floss with braces on.


Traditional and Basic Dental Floss

If you're looking for an efficient way to clean your teeth at an affordable price point, traditional dental floss is a great option. This simple string comes in varieties with wax and no wax. If you have braces, a waxed version can glide across your teeth much easier. To make the process of flossing even easier, we recommend investing in a floss threader.

Make sure that you clean between each of your teeth. You should be inserting the floss and then pushing it down to the gum line. Always rinse your mouth out with mouthwash after you have flossed to remove any debris or bacteria that has been dislodged.


Dental Tape

Like dental floss, dental tape is used in between each tooth. However, it has a wider surface area, so it provides more comfort for people wearing braces. If you're prone to experiencing gum or tooth irritation, especially after adjustments, you may want to consider this product instead of floss.


Water Flossing Tool

For ultra-sensitive gums, a water flossing tool shoots strong streams of water in between each tooth. It does a really good job of removing anything that is stuck. It doesn't take long to clean your teeth with a waterpik, and many units come with all kinds of settings that allow you to adjust the pressure according to your comfort level.


Products Designed for Braces

There are several flossing products that we recommend to our patients with braces. Individually cut floss sticks can be taken on the go with you or used at home. They give you a good handle to grab onto, so you don't slip and lose control.

If you are finding it challenging to floss your teeth with braces, reach out to the team here at Myers Orthodontics. We are a Fountain City family orthodontist that provides a variety of adult orthodontics in Knoxville as well as child services. Contact us today to find out more. You can also take a look at our blog for other helpful tips.