When it comes to brushing and flossing, you
know that it’s an important part of oral health. However, flossing can be hard
when you have braces, and many neglect it. However, you need to do this if you
want a smile that is strong and healthy, and it does matter especially even
when you’re done with treatment. It’s important to tackle it head-on, so that
you do this even when you’re done with your treatment.
Now, you want to make sure that if you do
have braces you get a thin, wax-coated floss that works for you. You can get
flavored, but it’s not essential. If you get unwaxed, it can cause problems,
since it’s more like a thread and tends to get caught in the braces. You want
to get a floss threader as well, which will make it easier to get around your
wires too, which in turn will make it a lot more helpful for you.
Now, flossing is super important. How
important is it? Well, many dentists will tell you that if you don’t floss,
particles get trapped in there. It’s even more obvious when you have braces,
and that starts to fester, eating away at the enamel. This can cause gum
disease, and it’s even harder to treat this after you get the braces on. So,
make sure that you keep your teeth nice and healthy, to help you out.
So how do you floss with braces? Well
first, you want to rinse your mouth to loosen stuff. Brush your teeth for two
minutes, cleaning around each of the brackets.
For the flossing, start with the teeth that
are easily accessed that don’t require you to thread the floss around it. Hold
it, and then use the sawing motion to remove the particles.
To get near the base of the tooth near the
gum line, thread this under the main wire, and this is where the floss threader
comes in to help you out. Put it in between the two teeth to the base of it.
Hug it against each side and move it up and down. Be careful not to put too
much pressure on this, since it could potentially break the bracket.
Continue to do that with each tooth.
Remember that some teeth might have a bigger gap, while others are quite snug.
Do this as carefully as possible. Do it around your second molars as well,
hugging it and moving it up and down.
One way to make this easier on you is to
get an electric toothbrush. Now, it’s been scientifically proven to be more effective
than the manual ones when it comes to getting rid of the plaque there and
improving your gum health. This can get in between the brackets and the wires
and get the bacteria before it becomes a nuisance. So, get this.
Finally, if you haven’t done it yet, do
consider getting Invisalign. Many people that need this do qualify for
Invisalign. They’re invisible, so they can straighten your teeth and make it
better, are more comfortable, and have better results since you’re not
restricted in your diet. They’re much more convenient for your oral health. So
as long as you know how to take care of your teeth, you’ll be much happier, and
you can make sure that you’re doing the right thing when it comes to your oral
health. It’s something worth considering.
But, if for whatever reason, you can’t do
this, don’t despair, it’s actually still possible to get the oral health
treatments that you need, and truly take care of yourself as well. By doing
this, flossing and brushing your teeth in an effective manner, it will allow
you to truly get the results that you want from this, and you’ll definitely be
able to make it right for yourself. Do this for yourself today, and start to
take control of your oral health. Remember, braces are an investment, and the
better you take care of them, the less you’ll have to keep them on, so it’s
something that you should definitely keep in mind as you continue to better
yourself and go through your oral treatments too.