After you get your braces put in, you will find that you may have to adapt the way you do some things. Without a question, flossing is one of those things. Because the braces present a unique challenge when it comes to flossing, here are some tips to help make the process go more smoothly. First Tip: Don’t Skip! Some people may be tempted to stop flossing because it seems to be more work once you have braces. While this may be tempting to you, don’t do it! It is vital to your continued dental health that you continue to floss at least once in every 24 hour period. Use Waxed Floss You may not even know it, but dental floss comes in two varieties: waxed and unwaxed. Waxed floss is covered with a thin coating of wax to help it slide in between the teeth more smoothly. Unwaxed floss is just that: unwaxed, and more fibrous than waxed floss. Use waxed floss when you have braces. The wax will help the dental floss easily slide in between your teeth and dental work. Unwaxed floss will become frayed and is more likely to get caught in your braces. Cut Your Floss into Pieces Rather than using one long piece of floss, much like you did before you had braces, you are going to need to cut your floss into pieces. This is because you will be threading the floss between your teeth (rather than sliding it down from the top). As such, it is easier to use several shorter pieces of floss than it would be to use one long piece. Thread the floss between the teeth, and then gently slide it down below the gum line. Carefully bring it back up, but do not “pop” the floss out from between your teeth, as doing that could end up damaging the braces. Following these tips will help you with your flossing experience. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.