Using floss is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain good dental health. It is the process of cleaning between your teeth to remove debris and food from areas a toothbrush cannot normally reach and an important part of your daily routine to keep your pearly whites sparkling and healthy.
When wearing braces, it is even more important to floss regularly since food collects and sticks more easily around the brackets and wires. At Redwood Shores Orthodontics it is critical for our patients to know that when they do not floss, the result is a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria that can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth, around the braces, and can cause puffiness and bleeding of gum tissue. Even if you are wearing Invisalign aligners that are removable when eating, it is still important to floss on a daily basis to maintain good oral hygiene.
What is most important is to make sure that you floss correctly and clean your teeth thoroughly. Watch this video on how to floss and the proper care of your teeth while wearing braces.
Should I Floss Before I Brush, Or After?
There are different benefits to both flossing before brushing and after brushing. If you brush your teeth first, this can cause the plaque between your teeth to loosen up. This, in turn, will allow your flossing to be more effective. That being said, flossing before brushing allows you to dislodge food debris that you can then brush away afterward. When wearing braces, it works best to floss after you brush away all the food that adheres to your brackets and wires. This will make it easier to thread the floss in between the brackets to floss properly.
Should I Floss In The Morning? At Night? Both?
It’s only necessary to floss once per day. Flossing at night is considered the best time. Doing so helps to ensure that food and debris from the day don’t stay within the crevices of your teeth overnight, helping to stop the build-up of plaque and tooth decay. However, if night time is not best for you… as long as you floss, anytime is fine that works with your schedule.
Still, Have Questions?
If you’d like to learn more about flossing techniques, or about what type of floss you should be using, feel free to reach out to our team at Redwood Shores Orthodontics in Redwood Shores CA. We are always available to answer any questions you have about maintaining good dental health while going through orthodontic treatment.