Flossing with Traditional Braces

Flossing with traditional braces may seem impossible, but it’s not. If you don’t floss between the brackets and wires, you will develop periodontal disease which will make your gums sensitive, red, and swollen. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS, will guide you through the process of flossing with traditional braces, but you can start with this simple technique.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions or concerns about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Brushing with Braces

If you have braces, your oral hygiene routine should be accelerating into overdrive. The reason for this is that braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. Dr. Amit Pandya can’t stand behind you to monitor how you often you brush, but he can recommend the following routine to help make daily brushing and flossing with braces both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Last but not least, don’t forget to floss in between brackets!

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya in New Hyde Park, NY, call our office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com.