Flossing With Braces!
Yes, you can floss with braces but you have to take excess precaution if you have crooked or crowded teeth or any kind of jaw disorders. Flossing with braces takes extra time and effort so you have to prepare yourself for this. But it is possible to keep your mouth looking and feeling healthy and clean when you have braces. People with braces are more likely to get cavities and gingivitis as the cleaning is quite important. The brackets on teeth trap solid food particles, and the wires get in the way of brushing and dental floss hence it’s not easy to floss with braces. You should take extra care to cleanse regularly with braces as it prevents puffed and bleeding gums and minimizes the chances of tooth decay.
Tips for cleansing with braces –
Dental flossing with braces seems a tough task but in reality, it’s not that convoluted.
Waxed floss
Unwaxed floss is made up of strands that catch on braces and get left behind in your mouth. Try waxed thread as it glides easily between teeth and doesn’t tear so you don’t have to worry about dental floss residue.
Floss threader
It’s hard to thread decently with braces blocking your teeth and gums. In this, you have to pull the floss through the threader, then use the threader to maneuver the floss behind your wires and between your teeth.
Dental tape
If you have gum soreness you may find the dental tape, or ribbon floss, more comfortable because it is broader, spongier and gentler on gums.
Orthodontic brush
The orthodontic brush is also known as a proxy brush. This brush has v-shaped bristles to get between brackets and reach all the places you might be missing with a regular toothbrush.
Water Pick
Water picks can help flush out food and bacteria in hard-to-floss places. They’re convenient for getting rid of food debris between meals when you don’t have time to brush or floss. The water pressure also stimulates the gums to simplify inflammation.
Disclosing tablets
You can use plaque disclosing tablets for dental floss. The best part is these tablets are chewable and carry a dye that lights up a patch and food residuary you might have lost while cleaning your teeth.
Have a look at the top-notch practices to keep your pearly whites lustrous bright –
Regular cleanings are must
If you have orthodontic braces then it would be a good idea to get cleanings from a dental hygienist. They better know how to deep clean around the brackets and forbid spotting. You can schedule a cleaning with your dental practitioner every three months.
Never use whitening toothpaste
Keeping your teeth bright white is a good idea but brushing with whitening toothpaste could create problems later on. Once the brackets are off, you may have off-white areas on each tooth and that looks awful.
Prefer electric toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes clean better than typical manual brushes so you can prefer them. The bristles of the electric toothbrush revolve to remove plaque buildup from your teeth and gums. The movement allows for more micro-movements whenever you move your electric toothbrush across your teeth.
Dental care is important for all but those have to take excess care who have braces. Cleansing with braces might seems a complex task but it must be done regularly to prevent gingivitis and plaque buildup. If you have additional questions about dental floss or brushing then talk to your dentist today.