The brackets and wires of orthodontic treatment make flossing challenging, yet it remains a necessary part of successful treatment. Braces create additional surfaces where food particles and bacterial plaque can become trapped, making daily interdental cleaning a requirement for maintaining oral health. New tools and techniques make cleaning every surface of the tooth possible and effective.
Why Dental Hygiene Is Important With Braces
Braces introduce numerous small crevices where food debris and plaque accumulate. The wires and brackets create sheltered areas that act as collection points for bacteria, which produce acids that erode tooth enamel. This mineral loss can result in decalcification, appearing as permanent white spots on the teeth after the braces are removed.
Plaque buildup along the gumline frequently causes gingivitis, the initial stage of gum disease, marked by red, swollen tissue that may bleed easily. If this inflammation is not managed, it can progress to periodontitis, a more severe infection that can damage the bone supporting the teeth. Maintaining clean, healthy gums is important because severe inflammation can force an orthodontist to pause or delay treatment, extending the overall time spent in braces.
The Step-by-Step Manual Flossing Technique
Traditional string floss combined with a floss threader offers a highly effective manual method for cleaning between teeth with braces. Start with a piece of waxed dental floss, approximately 18 to 24 inches long, since the wax helps it glide smoothly without snagging on the hardware. Thread one end of the floss through the small loop of the floss threader.
Carefully guide the threader’s tip under the main archwire, pulling the floss through the space between two teeth. Once the floss is positioned, remove the threader and gently wrap the ends of the floss around your index fingers for better control. Slide the floss down to the gumline and curve it around the side of one tooth, forming a “C” shape to hug the tooth’s surface.
Gently move the floss up and down the side of the tooth, ensuring you clean beneath the gumline, then repeat the motion on the adjacent tooth within that same space. Carefully slide the floss out and repeat the entire threading process for the next pair of teeth. This technique must be repeated for every space between the teeth on both the upper and lower arches to ensure comprehensive plaque removal.
Specialized Equipment to Simplify Flossing
Several specialized tools can simplify the daily flossing routine. The water flosser directs a focused, pulsating stream of water between the teeth and around the brackets. This device is effective at flushing out food particles and reducing inflammation along the gumline, often proving less technique-sensitive than string floss. Many models include specialized orthodontic tips designed to clean around the complex surfaces of the braces efficiently.
Pre-cut orthodontic floss, such as Superfloss, integrates three distinct sections into a single strand. One end is stiffened, acting as a built-in threader that can be easily pushed under the archwire. This is followed by a spongy section designed to clean around the bracket, and finally, a regular floss section for cleaning the tooth surface.
Orthodontic flossers, sometimes called Orthopicks, are single-use plastic handles with floss pre-strung between two arms. They are designed with a flattened arm that is thin enough to slide under the archwire, simplifying the process of getting the floss into position. While highly convenient for quick cleaning, especially when away from home, they may not reach every tight contact point as thoroughly as a manual C-shaped string floss technique.