Water Flossers vs Floss Picks: What Is the Best Floss for Braces?

Food debris can often get between your teeth. Most of the time, you’ll find that brushing isn’t enough. 

Fortunately, flossing can get to those hard-to-reach places, helping protect your teeth from cavities, gum disease and plaque. Dental health experts are one in saying that flossing is a vital “oral hygiene practice.” But it can sometimes be a tedious process especially when you’re wearing braces. 

Finding a floss for braces is therefore more challenging. The archwire, or the wire that threads the brackets together, blocks the floss from getting all the way between your teeth.

This article discusses the different ortho flossers you can choose from. Find out what the best floss for braces is!  

Two Kinds of Floss for Braces

From the minute your dentist finishes the dental work with your braces, you may be wondering: How do I floss with braces?Using floss picks is one way! Floss picks  are convenient as you only use one hand. 

Floss Picks for Braces

1. Waxed floss is the right type of floss pick for the job. Floss that hasn’t been waxed is more likely to get tangled in the metal brackets.
2. Gently slide the floss pick up and down in between teeth..
3. Repeat until all of your teeth are clean. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least one to two times.

Floss picks, however, are less effective compared to traditional floss strings because floss picks don’t let you reach all angles like string floss does.

Water Flosser for Braces

There is an easier way to floss when you’re wearing braces. With a water flosser for braces, you no longer need to worry about how to get through your brace’s wire. This type of floss reaches areas around the teeth and under the gumline.

Water flossers work by releasing a steady stream of water, creating enough pressure to clean between teeth and along the gumline. It can get between the teeth, braces, veneers and other orthodontics appliances. 

Some Tips on Using Water Floss for Braces

1. Make sure the machine’s water tank is full. You can mix in some mouthwash to make it more antibacterial. 
2. Press the water button to ensure that the flosser is working properly and that the water pressure is sufficient for your needs.
3. Place the flosser’s tip in your mouth.
4. Switch the water flosser on. As a precaution, close your mouth to prevent water from dripping out. While flossing, let the water in your mouth drain.
5. Use a gentle stream of water to clean the gums and the spaces in between your teeth.

Wondering What Is the Best Water Floss for Braces?

The JetFloss Water Flosser from PRO-SYS gives you fresh breath and leaves a cooling sensation. It reduces inflammation and the risk of periodontal diseases as it massages the gums while reaching gently into the pockets. It can also remove the plaque you missed when brushing your teeth.