How to Floss With Braces: 5 Tips to Make Cleaning Easier
Flossing with braces can take a little extra time, especially when you’re first getting used to your brackets and wires. But keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment is an important part of maintaining a healthy smile!
At Cyterski Orthodontics, we want our patients to feel confident caring for their smiles throughout their braces journey. Whether you’ve just gotten braces or have had them for several months, learning how to floss properly can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy while your smile transforms.
The good news? With the right tools and a little practice, flossing with braces can become a much easier part of your daily routine.
Here are five tips to help you get started!
Why Is Flossing Important When You Have Braces?
Braces help straighten your teeth, but brackets and wires also create additional spaces where food particles and plaque can collect.
Brushing alone may not reach every area between your teeth, which is why flossing remains an important part of your oral hygiene routine.
Flossing regularly can help remove plaque between your teeth and along the gumline, helping reduce your risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and other oral health problems during orthodontic treatment.
Taking care of your teeth throughout treatment helps support the healthy, beautiful smile you’re working toward!
5 Tips for Flossing With Braces
One of the easiest ways to make flossing with braces more manageable is to find a tool that works well for you.
Here are a few options to consider:
Orthodontic floss: Some floss products are designed with a stiffened end that makes it easier to guide the floss around braces.
Floss threaders: These small, flexible tools help you guide regular dental floss underneath the archwire so you can clean between your teeth.
Interdental brushes: These tiny brushes can help clean around brackets and underneath wires, reaching areas that may be difficult to access with a regular toothbrush.
Water flossers: These devices use a stream of water to help remove food debris and plaque around braces and along the gumline.
There isn't one tool that works best for everyone. If traditional flossing feels challenging, try a different option and ask your dental or orthodontic team which tools may work best for your needs.
2. Thread the Floss Carefully Under Your Archwire
If you're using traditional dental floss with braces, you'll need to guide it underneath the archwire before cleaning between your teeth.
Here's how to get started:
Gently guide the floss threader underneath the wire between two teeth.
Pull the dental floss through the threader so it passes beneath the wire.
Carefully slide the floss between your teeth without snapping it into your gums.
Curve the floss around one tooth in a C shape and gently move it up and down, including just beneath the gumline.
Repeat along the neighboring tooth before carefully removing the floss.
Continue working your way around your mouth, taking your time to clean between each tooth.
A helpful tip: Avoid forcing the floss or pulling aggressively against your brackets and wires. If the floss gets caught, gently work it free rather than tugging.
3. Make Flossing Part of Your Daily Routine
When you first get braces, flossing can feel like an extra chore. It's normal for the process to take longer while you're learning the technique!
Try choosing a consistent time each day to floss, such as before bed. Building it into your existing brushing routine can make it easier to remember.
It may help to keep your flossing tools somewhere convenient, too. When your supplies are easy to reach, you're more likely to stick with your routine.
Remember, consistency matters more than speed. Taking a few extra minutes to clean between your teeth can help protect your oral health throughout orthodontic treatment.
4. Don't Forget the Areas Around Your Brackets and Gumline
Flossing is important, but it works best as part of a complete oral hygiene routine.
Food and plaque can also collect around brackets, underneath archwires, and near the gumline.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to carefully clean around each bracket, paying attention to the areas above and below the wire.
An interdental brush may also help you clean around brackets and underneath the archwire where your regular toothbrush may have difficulty reaching.
A water flosser can be another useful addition to your routine. Although it can help flush away food debris and clean around orthodontic appliances, it shouldn't automatically replace traditional flossing unless your dental professional recommends an appropriate alternative for your needs.
5. Ask Our Orthodontic Team for Help if You're Struggling
Having trouble getting floss underneath your archwire? Not sure whether you're cleaning between your teeth properly?
Don't be afraid to ask for help!
Learning to floss with braces takes practice, and different tools work better for different people. Our orthodontic team can demonstrate helpful techniques and suggest products that may make your routine easier.
At Cyterski Orthodontics, we want our patients to feel supported throughout their orthodontic treatment. If you have questions about caring for your braces or keeping your teeth clean, we're happy to help point you in the right direction.
Learn more about braces care tips by reading our blog, "Braces Pittsburgh: Easy Care Tips to Keep Your Smile Shining 😁"
Frequently Asked Questions About Flossing With Braces
1) How often should you floss with braces?
Aim to floss at least once a day, following your dental professional's recommendations.
Daily flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from areas your toothbrush may not reach.
2) Is it hard to floss with braces?
Flossing with braces can take more time because the floss needs to pass underneath the archwire.
Floss threaders, orthodontic floss, and other specialized tools can make the process easier with practice.
3) Can you use a water flosser with braces?
Yes! Water flossers can help remove food debris and clean around brackets, wires, and the gumline.
They can be a helpful addition to your oral hygiene routine, although your dental professional can advise whether you also need traditional floss or another interdental cleaning method.
4) What happens if you don't floss with braces?
Without regular cleaning between your teeth, plaque can accumulate in areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
This may increase your risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and other oral health problems. Consistent brushing and interdental cleaning are important throughout braces treatment.
5) Can I ask my orthodontist how to floss with braces?
Absolutely! If you're unsure how to clean around your braces, ask our orthodontic team for guidance.
Our team can help you understand which techniques and tools may work best for you.
Keep Your Smile Healthy With Cyterski Orthodontics
Your braces journey is about more than straightening your teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene along the way helps support a healthy smile that you can feel confident sharing!
At Cyterski Orthodontics, we're proud to help patients throughout the Pittsburgh area work toward healthier, more confident smiles.
With convenient locations in Allison Park in the North Hills and Pleasant Hills in the South Hills, our team provides personalized orthodontic care with an emphasis on helping patients feel comfortable and informed throughout treatment.
Whether you're just starting braces or are already working toward your new smile, we're here to help you make the most of your orthodontic journey.
Learn more about about oral hygiene tips by reading our blog, "Essential Oral Hygiene Tips for Pittsburgh Residents Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment"
Thinking about starting orthodontic treatment? Book your free consultation on our website today or call either of our office locations!
Our Locations
📍 Allison Park Office
4485 William Flinn Highway
Allison Park, PA 15101
📞 (412) 492-8700
📍 Pleasant Hills Office
67 Old Clairton Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
📞 (412) 655-8200
Proudly Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area
North Hills: Allison Park, Fox Chapel, Hampton Township, McCandless, Glenshaw, Ross Township, Shaler, Wexford, Gibsonia
South Hills: Pleasant Hills, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Whitehall, Baldwin, Brentwood, South Park, Jefferson Hills, Castle Shannon, Dormont,
Central & Surrounding Areas: Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, East Liberty, Greenfield, Oakland, Regent Square, Penn Hills, Point Breeze, Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, and more.
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