While braces are a great way to make your smile shine, the process also requires you to make some changes. Having braces eliminates certain snacks from your diet and changes the way you brush, floss, and treat your teeth. Flossing can be quite the challenge if both your top and bottom teeth have brackets. Here are some products that can help you stay on top of your flossing while you have braces.
Waxed Floss
Waxed floss is useful for flossing in between braces for adults, teens, and children. Non-waxed floss frays easily and is more likely to get caught on your braces. Flossing with non-waxed floss will leave pieces of floss stuck in between brackets and reduce your ability to maintain peak dental hygiene. Waxed floss is available at most grocery and general merchandise department stores.
Floss Threaders
You may want to pair your waxed floss with floss threaders to make the conventional flossing process as easy as possible with different kinds of braces or aligners. Floss threaders are great for children and teens with crowded mouths and even those in Dallas without braces or with Invisalign®. They are especially helpful for those with ceramic or metal braces because they help the flosser thread their waxed floss through each of the gaps. The threader makes the floss easier to manipulate when it’s in the mouth and keeps the floss from fraying its end. Floss threaders are available at most grocery and general merchandise department stores as well.
Electric Hydraulic Flossers
Water flossers can be extremely helpful to flossers who have ceramic or metal braces. These electric machines pulsate water through a hose, creating a small, rhythmic stream of water that cleans deep beneath the teeth and below the gumline, where conventional flossing methods fall short. They are recommended for teen and adult use, as the multiple steps and required upkeep may be too much to ask for some children. Some models have different tips to distribute the water in different ways, such as working around braces. Many water flossers have timers on them and either plug into the wall or are battery powered.
Talk to Our Orthodontist in Dallas
To learn more about maintaining your dental hygiene while you have braces, speak with our orthodontist and staff at Ragan Orthodontics in Dallas. Contact us today to book an appointment and get started. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile!
