Flossing is an integral part of a good oral hygiene regimen. The fact that you have braces doesn't change this. However, when flossing with braces, there are certain precautions you want to take in order to protect your teeth and your dental appliance. Make sure you know how to brush correctly for the best results.

Choose Floss Wisely

The first thing you want to do is choose the correct type of floss. When you don't have braces, you can choose any style of floss. However, when you have braces this isn't the case. It's best to stick with floss that is waxed. Floss that is unwaxed can easily get stuck in between your brackets.

When you try to remove it, it can shred between the metal and get stuck on your teeth. Waxed floss is smoother, allowing it to glide through and around your teeth and brackets more easily. You should be able to read the label to see if the floss is waxed or unwaxed. 

Take Your Time

When flossing with braces it can take a while. Usually, you can thread the floss through your teeth and snap the string back and forth to remove any lodged food particles. However, not with braces. When you floss in this manner there is always the risk that the floss will get lodged underneath or around one of your brackets.

If this should happen, when you go to pull the string back and forth, you could then dislodge one of the brackets. When flossing with braces it's important to take your time and be gentle. Additionally, you should also rotate the floss in an up and down pattern instead of going back and forth.

Consider Alternatives

When you have braces, it might be a good idea to upgrade to a different flossing option instead of using traditional string floss on its own. One idea is to consider using a floss threader. As its name suggests, a floss threader is a tool that you feed the string floss through.

For people with braces, it can help because you don't have to spend as much time trying to carefully move the floss around your braces. The threader keeps the floss looped securely so that you can easily glide it though your teeth without the risk of the floss getting stuck around your brackets.

If you're having issues flossing with your braces, your dental provider can help. Your provider will be able to recommend different products and practices that will help you floss so that you can keep your teeth healthy. Hop over to this website to learn more.