How to Use Dental Floss with Braces?
11.02.2026

Flossing with braces should be done using special tools and techniques; regular cleaning is critical for maintaining oral health.

Flossing Is Essential for Braces Cleaning!

Using dental floss is a very important step in maintaining oral hygiene. With orthodontic treatment, braces cleaning requires extra care and attention. Flossing plays a major role in keeping your braces and teeth clean.

Flossing is essential to ensure complete oral hygiene. Especially for thorough braces cleaning, flossing should never be neglected. So, how do you floss with braces? If you have questions about flossing with braces, you can read our guide below.

Maintaining Oral Hygiene Requires Extra Care When Wearing Braces!

Braces and brackets used in orthodontic treatment create ideal areas for bacterial buildup. Preventing bacteria and maintaining oral hygiene requires additional care while wearing braces. For this reason, you should use interdental brushes and dental floss. Traditional toothbrushes alone are not sufficient to properly clean braces.

If braces are not cleaned properly, stains may develop on your teeth and discoloration may occur. You may also face problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. To prevent these issues, you should not neglect flossing with braces.

Flossing with Braces Is Not as Difficult as You Think!

Flossing with braces cannot be done effectively using only traditional methods. If you are wondering how to floss with braces, first thread the floss behind the archwire between each tooth. Then gently move the floss between your teeth. Be careful not to pull on the wire while flossing. For braces cleaning, we recommend using waxed dental floss. Non-waxed floss may get caught in the brackets and leave small pieces behind.

You can use a floss threader to pass the floss under the wire more easily. Floss threaders have a stiff end that makes threading simpler. Similarly, floss picks can also make flossing with braces more convenient. You can ask your orthodontist to inform you about the most suitable products for braces cleaning.

If you are asking how to floss with braces, start by wrapping the floss around your fingers, leaving about 5 cm (2 inches) of working length. Carefully guide the floss between your braces and gently clean between each tooth. Move the floss up and down along the sides of the teeth. The key to flossing with braces is to be careful and thorough.

You Can Maintain Braces Hygiene with the Right Products and Proper Technique!

You should not neglect flossing as part of your braces cleaning routine. There are many products available on the market designed specifically for cleaning braces. At first, you may not know which ones to choose. You can ask your orthodontist for detailed information about braces hygiene and flossing techniques. With the right products and proper application, you will see that flossing with braces is not as difficult as you might think.

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Tülay AKKOL

Chief Dentist

Tülay AKKOL

Chief Dentist and Tülay Akkol Dental founder Tülay Akkol shares valuable insights on dental health and care, offering practical tips for everyday life. Her articles also highlight the latest innovations and developments in dentistry, helping readers stay informed about the industry's advancements.

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