Here at Olson Orthodontics, we aim to be your premier provider when you’re looking for an orthodontist in Litchfield Park. Not only do we offer a wide variety of efficient braces and other orthodontic treatment options, but we’re also proud to give you the compassionate care and advice required to make sure that your treatment goes as smoothly as it can. During your orthodontic treatment, one of the most important things that you can do is adhere to a daily oral hygiene regimen. While flossing is always a vital part of taking care of one’s teeth, it becomes even more critical when you’re wearing braces. Braces allow for many more places for food particles to get trapped, which is why you’ll need to make sure to floss daily when you have them. Here are a few tips to help you with the process!
Flossing with Braces
When you have braces, flossing becomes a bit more of a complicated task due to the archwire that goes across your teeth. To make flossing simpler, we recommend using a floss threader. To floss with a floss threader, follow these basic steps:
- First, pull one end of floss through the floss threader.
- Push the threader as it’s carrying the free end of floss underneath your archwire.
- After that, grab the floss on both ends and slide it up and down the sides of both teeth as well as underneath the gums. Continue doing this until you hear a squeaking sound.
- When you finish, pull out the floss and use a new section of it for the next set of teeth.
Other Flossing Tools for Braces
If you’re having a hard time flossing with your braces on, there are actually a few other tools that you can use to make the job easier. One of these is an interdental toothbrush, also known as a proxabrush. Proxabrushes have small tufts of bristles that stick up around it, just like a pipe cleaner. With the usage of one of these, you can clean the tiny spaces that exist around brackets and under wires.
Another tool that can be useful for flossing is the water pick. This device shoots out a small stream of pressurized water that can dislodge food particles that get stuck in your teeth. While you shouldn’t do this in place of flossing, it can still be a very helpful tool when used alongside your typical oral hygiene regimen.
Contact Your Litchfield Park Orthodontist for All Your Braces Needs!
If there’s more that you’d like to know about braces or any of our other orthodontics, feel free to contact us. We’re always glad to help! If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with your Litchfield Park orthodontist, you can give the Olson Orthodontics team a call at (623) 536-7004. We hope to hear from you and help give you a straighter and healthier smile!