Flossing With Braces

Suzanne Haeri DDS is located in West Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Haeri knows all areas of dental health. This includes orthodontic care. Braces make it a bit harder to keep your teeth clean. Yet it’s even more important to floss daily with them on! Brackets and wires trap the food. That’s why we’ve created this basic guide of the different compatible flossing apparatuses. Find out which one works best for you!

 

The floss threader is the first option. These look like a dull, plastic needle. Start by threading the floss through the eye. The threader moves the floss under the wire and into place. Continue flossing from this point as normal. Regardless of whether you have braces or not, it’s necessary to floss daily. Try flossing after every meal to fully clean your teeth.

 

The second option is the floss picks. These look like a miniature prong. Floss is threaded tautly between the two tines. This is a quicker and simpler flossing method. The floss pick is thin enough to fit under the wire. Push the thread between each tooth and clean it as normal. These devices are available in grocery stores and supermarkets. They are relatively inexpensive and a great tool to have.

 

Waterpiks are similar to the tools used in our dental office. These spray a steady stream of water at the teeth. This works as a highly pressurized form of flossing. The water is so strong that it knocks out food and debris. Additional add-ons are available specifically for orthodontic cleaning.

 

Suzanne Haeri DDS is located in West Los Angeles. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Suzanne Haeri, call 310-657-2200 or visit https://www.suzannehaeridds.com/

Flossing with Braces

Brushing shouldn’t be the only part of your daily dental routine! Flossing is important too. This is especially true when you have braces. Dr. Suzanne Haeri recommends investing in flossing applicators. These different devices circumvent your braces so you can floss correctly. Flossing once a day ensures you don’t develop cavities. If you’re interested in learning more, contact our office in Los Angeles, CA.

 

When you have braces, you need to be flossing more than once a day. It’s recommended to floss after every meal. Braces give bacteria unique new areas to grow. Trapped food just attracts more germs to these areas. Being proactive is a necessity.

 

-One of the most important orthodontic flossing devices is floss threaders. These are small dental tools that move floss under the orthodontic wire. From there, you’re able to floss normally. It’s a necessary tool in every patient’s orthodontic care kit.

-Floss picks are also a viable option. These look like small, two-forked prongs. Floss is strung between the prongs. Because of their smaller size, these devices avoid the wire. Carefully move the pronged floss between your teeth to clean them.

-Lastly, consider investing in a Waterpik. These tools are similar to devices used in dental offices. The Waterpik sprays a steady stream of water at your teeth. The pressure then pushes the food and debris out. Most Waterpiks have available add-ons for orthodontic cleanings.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about these products, reach out to our Los Angeles, CA, staff. Dr. Suzanne Haeri is available by appointment. To schedule an appointment, visit her website or call 310-657-2200.