How do you floss your teeth with a back brace?

Floss between each tooth once a day, and use a small interproximal brush to clean around the brackets and under the wires. Don’t skip flossing, even if it takes more time with your braces. These flossing techniques may make the process faster and easier.

How do you keep a molar band clean?

To keep the bands clean and avoid tooth decay, be sure to brush and floss between every meal. Avoid whitening toothpaste, which can leave dark spots or patches once the brackets and bands are removed.

Can you floss between molar bands?

Since a molar band completely encircles the tooth, it can be difficult to brush or floss the area. A cavity can develop if food becomes stuck between the tooth and the band. To prevent this from happening, most orthodontists use glues that have fluoride in them to reduce the risk of cavities.

How long do metal spacers stay in?

The spacers stay between the teeth for one to two weeks and move the teeth apart slowly until they are far apart enough so that orthodontists can fit a tooth brace or molar band in between them or fit an expander with metal rings. Spacers are usually used to put spaces in between teeth before braces are established.

Why can’t I floss between my teeth with braces?

The reason flossing with braces is so difficult is due to the wire running through each brace, connecting them, known as the archwire. This wire prevents you from flossing your teeth the traditional way as it does not all the floss to come all the way up between your teeth.

How often should you floss?

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice daily and floss each day. While we know of some patients who floss after each meal just to ensure there’s no food stuck in their teeth, flossing just once each day will work wonders for your oral hygiene.

Is it normal for molars to hurt with braces?

Fortunately, this type of sensitivity is a short lived result, occurring only as teeth and gums begin to accommodate the adjustment process. While it is normal for braces to cause some minor tooth sensitivity, they should not result in extreme or ongoing discomfort.

Do metal spacers hurt?

Some spacers are small metal spring clips that squeeze the teeth apart. There is some pressure throughout the process and some soreness after, but overall, the spacer application process is quite painless, although the patient may immediately start to feel pain from the pressure exerted on the teeth.

What is the next step after spacers for braces?

If you had spacers placed, these will be removed and replaced with the metal bands. First, your orthodontist will slip on a few different band sizes to determine the best fit for your tooth. Once the band size has been determined, glue will be placed on the inside of the band and the band will be slid onto your tooth.