Waterpik Water Flossing With Braces – Braces Las Vegas

Braces are notoriously known for being hard to maintain as traditional metal or ceramic braces cannot be removed like Invisalign braces are capable of. This means that simple procedures such as brushing and flossing your teeth become slightly more difficult.

Regular string flossing is still recommended!

Truth is: many people do not understand how to properly floss with orthodontic appliances in their mouth. Special flossers exist to make the process easier, but sometime we just want something that is convenient and doesn’t require any special technique.

Waterpik® Flossing With Braces

Arguably one of the best ways to floss with braces, the Waterpik® is a tool that can be used at-home for a deeper clean than what standard dental floss offers. Both work very well, but the Waterpik’s pressurized stream of water penetrates deeper as it has the ability to remove biofilm – a substance that cannot be effectively removed through regular flossing and brushing. It can also penetrate deeper into our periodontal pockets, fending off periodontal disease while keeping our gums strong.

The reason the Waterpik® is simple for those with braces is because all you have to do is fill the machine with water, turn it on, and point it in the direction that you want to apply pressurized water too. The pressure is strong enough to remove any food particles stuck in between or around the wires and brackets without hassling with string.

Most water flossing devices may take some time to adjust to as there are varying levels of pressure certain machines can operate at. Always begin at the lowest setting and tweak it as needed. The pressure should be gentle on your teeth and gums, but strong enough to cause action. There are also a variety of tips that can be used, which offer different streams of water. It may take some experimentation to figure out which tip you prefer.

Don’t be alarmed if your gums bleed the first couple of times as you are new to the device and have not been exposed to pressurized water. As your gums heal and strengthen, you will see a drastic decrease in bleeding gums.

We Still Recommend Brushing and Flossing

The Waterpik® or any similar pressurized water flossing device is not meant to be a replacement for brushing. For the most part, it can effectively replace flossing, but using string flossing is still better at removing sticky plaque in between the teeth. You should always focus on brushing your teeth at least twice a day. You can read more about brushing with braces on our website.

5 Things To Consider Avoiding With Braces – Braces Las Vegas

Braces are a great temporary addition to your mouth for a variety of reasons – the largest reason being because they improve the aesthetics of your teeth by straightening them. Studies have actually shown that having straighter teeth does matter in our society. Unfortunately, braces have a downside as well (but remember it’s only temporary!). We have compiled a list for you of 8 things you should consider avoiding with braces.

1. Certain Foods

Foods can be a tricky subject for those with braces, especially to anyone new. You can check out our post on foods to avoid with braces, but there’s one in particular: gum. If you chew gum with braces, you’ll find yourself trying to dig it out piece by piece. All it takes is one bad experience and you will probably never chew gum with braces again.

Apples also pose another problem. They aren’t sticky, but biting into an apple with braces could potentially cause damage to the brackets. If you’re going to eat an apple, then cut it into smaller pieces and chew slowly.

2. Sports

Unless you’re committed to a team, you should probably try to avoid playing sports while you straighten out your teeth. Orthodontic mouth guards do exist to help, but sports and braces generally just do not mix.

3. Red Bands

A lot of people find fun in customizing the color corrective bands they want to use with their braces. Our suggestion is to avoid the color red simply because people have reported that it makes their mouths appear as if they were bleeding – making for a highly unattractive appearance.

4. Playing With Large Dogs

A lot of us absolutely love dogs (we do!), but sometimes playing with a large dog isn’t in the best of our interests. Large dogs may get too excited and jump onto you – sometimes into your face – accidentally, causing damage to your orthodontic braces.

5. Certain Drinks

We also offer a post on drinks to avoid with braces, but the one drink you should consider dropping – both for braces and for your oral health – is soda. The chemicals in most sodas can eat away at your teeth and your orthodontic appliances. It’s really just best to avoid soda altogether.

*This post is meant for those with traditional metal braces. Those with Invisalign® braces do not experience the same problems.