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Flossing With Braces On
3 Tips for Effective Results
Everyone knows they should floss their teeth every day, but very few people make flossing into a daily habit.
In fact, only four out of ten Americans floss once a day. An incredible 20 percent of respondents to this survey admitted to never flossing even once in their lives.
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Flossing is critical for cleaning the spaces in between teeth where food particles and bacteria often get lodged.
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In this article, we’ll first go over proper flossing technique. Later, we’ll share a few popular flossing alternatives you could use if you ever have to wear braces.
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Flossing With Braces On
How to Floss Correctly
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Always use a short piece of the floss so you have better control over it. Most people use both of their thumbs or one thumb and one index finger to hold their floss.
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Once you’re ready, gently push the piece of floss between your two teeth and rub it against one side four to five times. After that, scrub the adjacent tooth four to five times before pulling the floss out.
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Of course, always move your fingers down to a fresh piece of floss before cleaning the next space. Dentists don’t recommend snapping floss into your teeth because that could damage the sensitive gum layer known as the papilla.
Just use a gentle sawing motion to get your floss between your teeth.
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If you have any questions about your flossing technique, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist when you visit them.
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There are plenty of flossing alternatives on the market nowadays to help people with braces get all the gunk out of their teeth.
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Although these methods aren’t considered as effective as regular dental floss, they are certainly better than not cleaning between your teeth at all.
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Below, we’ll go over the most popular flossing alternatives you can use while wearing braces.
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Flossing With Braces On #1:
The Power of Water: WaterPik
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Another popular alternative to flossing that’s become mainstream is the WaterPik machine.
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As the name suggests, a WaterPik is an electrically-powered machine that uses a strong stream of water to clean between your teeth.
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Some WaterPik devices today have a wide array of nozzles so you can both stimulate your gums and floss your teeth at the same time. WaterPiks are especially helpful for people who have braces, implants, or crowns.
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Most studies suggest there are no major differences between regular flossing and regular use of a WaterPik device. Indeed, one 2005 study out of the University of Nebraska found that WaterPik users had a reduced risk of developing gingivitis than the general public.
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You should have no problem finding a WaterPik device at a local home goods store or online.
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Flossing With Braces On #2:
The Power of Air: AirFloss Devices
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AirFloss machines aren’t as popular as WaterPiks, but they are slowly picking up steam (no pun intended).
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All AirFloss devices use a steady stream of air mixed with a few tiny particles of water to push the bad bacteria out of your teeth.
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One nice feature about the AirFloss is that it uses a lot less water than a WaterPik, so it’s far less likely you’ll make a mess using your AirFloss.
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Most AirFloss devices are more convenient than WaterPiks because they are smaller and don’t require a cord. However, what you make up for in convenience you lose in effectiveness.
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All major studies analyzing the differences between AirFloss and WaterPik devices show that the AirFloss is more effective at removing bacteria and food particles from users’ teeth.
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Flossing With Braces On: #3
Make Flossing a Daily Habit.
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Let’s face it, flossing isn’t exactly a “fun” thing to do…but you need to do it. Flossing not only prevents your risk of getting gingivitis, it also lowers your risk of developing various cancers and heart disease later in life.
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Always talk with your dentist to determine what flossing method is best for your teeth and to make sure you’re practicing perfect flossing technique.
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Post by Dixie Somers
dixiesomers@gmail.com
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