Our team at Battiste Orthodontics understands the challenges of keeping up with oral hygiene when wearing braces.  But caring for your teeth and gums is still important.  Removing food particles and plaque between teeth while wearing braces is much easier if you follow these tips shared by our 12309 orthodontist:

Use a floss threader.  A floss threader is an inexpensive tool similar to a large, plastic needle that allow you to pull the floss through your teeth above the wire.  This allows you to floss between your teeth at the gum line, which is important to maintaining healthy gums.  Floss threaders are meant to be disposable, so use a new one each time you floss.

Use waxed floss or dental tape.  Waxed floss and dental tape slip between teeth easier than unwaxed floss, making it less likely that you will damage your wires.  They also are less likely to shred and leave pieces of floss stuck behind.

Use the right amount of floss.  Too much or too little can make flossing more difficult.  We recommend using 12-18 inches of floss.

Help younger children with flossing.  Flossing successfully, especially with braces, requires manual dexterity.  Young children may not be capable of flossing on their own.

Keeping good oral hygiene habits while wearing braces will help ensure that when your braces come off, you will have the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.  Please contact our orthodontics office in Schenectady, NY if you need additional information or to schedule an appointment.