The amount of floss you should use can vary slightly based on the size of your mouth and your hands. Most dental resources recommend a piece about 12 – 18 inches (30 – 46 cm) long.
Be gentle. Do not pull on the brace wire with the floss — you’re just trying to get the floss behind it, not to “scrub” the wire itself.
If you’ve flossed before, this movement should feel natural. You basically want to move the floss into the gap between the teeth, then push it down into the gap. For some of your teeth, this will probably be a tight fit — this is normal.
This scrubbing motion may seem like it’s not “doing” anything, but it is. Flossing isn’t just for removing bits of food that get stuck — it’s also important for removing plaque, an invisible film of bacteria that can cause decay, pain, and discoloration if it’s not dealt with. [5] X Research source
Take your time. [7] X Expert Source Tu Anh Vu, DMDBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 10 April 2020. Flossing properly when you have braces can take up to three times longer than a normal flossing session, but it’s especially important to floss when you’re wearing orthodontic devices because these devices can get in the way of cleaning with a brush alone. You may also experience some gum bleeding which is normal due to inflammation which occurs when braces are placed in.
Be careful when you apply the pressure to get in between your teeth — go gently with a back and forth movement.
Add also mouthwash to the water to increase the antibacterial protection and prevent gingivitis.
You can also use a bit of toothpaste on the interdental brush for better cleaning. Interdental brushes aren’t intended to be used as a replacement for floss. They can’t clean between the teeth as thoroughly as floss can. Instead, they’re used along with floss to ensure that the area behind the braces receives enough cleaning.
As with interdental brushes, orthodontic brushes are meant to be used with floss — not instead of it.
