Flossing is a necessary part of maintaining oral health during orthodontic treatment. Braces create many new surfaces and tight spaces where food particles and sticky bacterial film, known as plaque, can easily accumulate. This accumulation significantly increases the risk of developing tooth decay and gingivitis, the initial stage of gum disease. A dedicated flossing routine is essential to clear these areas inaccessible to a toothbrush.
Essential Tools for Flossing with Braces
The presence of the archwire and brackets makes using standard dental floss nearly impossible, requiring the use of specialized tools to navigate the hardware effectively. The most common tool is the floss threader, a small, flexible plastic loop resembling a sewing needle. This inexpensive tool acts as a guide, allowing you to insert a section of floss underneath the archwire and into the interdental space. Threaders are reusable and work with any type of dental floss you prefer.
You should select a waxed floss over an unwaxed variety when flossing with a threader. The wax coating helps the floss glide easily between tightly spaced teeth and prevents it from shredding or catching on the brackets and wires. Another excellent option is specialized orthodontic floss, often called Superfloss, which combines three components in a single strand: a stiff end for easy threading, a spongy middle section for cleaning around the brackets, and a regular floss section for cleaning near the gumline.
Step-by-Step Flossing Technique
Flossing with braces requires patience and a specific technique to ensure that you clean all tooth surfaces without damaging your orthodontic appliances. Start by cutting an 18-inch piece of floss and threading about four to five inches through the loop of a floss threader. Gently guide the stiff end of the threader under the archwire, positioning the floss in the space between two teeth. Once the floss is underneath the wire, remove the threader, leaving the floss in place.
With the floss positioned, wrap a section around the sides of one tooth, forming a “C” shape against the tooth surface. This technique allows the floss to hug the tooth and slide gently into the sulcus, the small space just below the gumline, where plaque often hides. Move the floss in a gentle vertical motion several times to scrape away the bacterial film.
After cleaning the first tooth, slide the floss to the adjacent tooth, maintain the “C” shape, and repeat the vertical motions. To finish, carefully remove the floss from the space by gently pulling it out from under the archwire. Use a fresh section of floss for the next space to avoid transferring bacteria.
The entire process should be repeated for every space between your teeth, which can take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Orthodontists recommend flossing at least once a day, ideally before bed, to remove the day’s accumulation of food debris and plaque.
Alternative Cleaning Methods
While manual flossing with a threader or Superfloss is highly effective, alternative tools can supplement or replace the traditional method.
Water Flossers
Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, use a pressurized, pulsating stream of water to flush out food particles and plaque from between teeth and around the braces. This method is beneficial because it is easier to use and much faster than manual flossing, often taking only about 60 seconds. Water flossers are gentler on sensitive gums and can be an excellent choice for individuals who struggle with the dexterity required for string flossing. Some dental professionals recommend using both string floss and a water flosser, as the string physically scrapes plaque from the tooth surface, while the water jet effectively flushes out debris.
Interdental Brushes
Another tool is the interdental brush, a small, cylindrical brush designed to clean the spaces between teeth and around the brackets. These brushes come in various sizes to fit different interdental gaps and are useful for cleaning the surface of the bracket and the wire itself. Interdental brushes are user-friendly and are a fast, effective method to remove debris and plaque from larger spaces. They serve as a good supplement to flossing, especially for cleaning the areas immediately surrounding the bracket base.