How to Make Flossing with Braces Simpler
It’s not surprising for most parents to hear that getting
kids to floss ever, let alone daily, is a difficulty—even adults struggle to
keep up this oral care practice. At the same time, people, especially children,
who wear braces have an even more difficult time flossing regularly. The wires
make traditional flossing ineffective and practically impossible, and it's a
challenge to do by yourself.
Given that orthodontic treatment is so important, it takes a lot of commitment from the patients wearing the braces—and parents if those patients are kids—to guarantee that teeth remain healthy while they are being straightened. So, here a few ways to make flossing easier.
Find the Right Tools
Using traditional dental floss on teeth with braces on them is notoriously frustrating. One way to make this easier is to see that sliding floss under the wire and between teeth is similar to threading a sewing needle, which is why a floss threader is a worthy investment. These are disposable, inexpensive tools you can find in any store selling toothpaste or toothbrushes. Floss threaders are essential for flossing around teeth that have braces because they allow you to easily reach the gum line as well as between the teeth.
Help Younger Kids Floss
For much younger children who have braces, it’s possible they will not have the required dexterity to successfully floss with a floss threader. If this is the case, their parents may have to assist them in the task of flossing—at least until they get used to the task themselves. To do this, the child would have to sit or kneel in a well-lighted area since the process could take a while. If the child finds sitting still to be difficult, have him or her be where he or she listen to music or watch a TV show while the parent flosses.
Try Waxed Floss
When it comes to braces and flossing, non-waxed floss is likelier to snag on braces or even leave pieces of floss behind. That’s why it’s better to try waxed floss while using a floss threader, which can easily slip in between teeth without catching. Just lightly slide the waxed floss into the gum line between two teeth before releasing the floss and the threader and moving on to the next teeth.
Even though oral health care is crucial for everyone, people who wear braces need to be especially committed to caring for their teeth. Parents and guardians should be active in their kids’ dental routine to ensure they are providing themselves the care they need. Flossing around braces takes nearly twice as long as it would for teeth without braces, yet it has to be done daily to prevent plaque buildup and gingivitis.
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