How to floss your permanent retainer

When permanent retainers are placed, they are bonded closely to the teeth to prevent them from moving. This tight space becomes an ideal location for plaque to build up. Regular brushing, flossing and dental hygiene will help to slow the process. Regular dental visits will remove any remaining plaque before it can build up and cause decay. Other items to consider include:

• Select a quality toothpaste.
• Brush the retainer area carefully to remove as much build up as possible. Electric toothbrushes are often more effective in reaching these areas than manual toothbrushes. The fast movement of the bristles will allow you to clean all along the retainer with minimal effort.
• Consider using a mouthwash in addition to your normal brushing and flossing. This can also cut down on the build up and help keep plaque away.
• Do not neglect your six month check-ups and cleanings. While all of these steps will help, these cleanings are essential to remove the remaining plaque that brushing can’t.

A threader is a simple, disposable tool sold in the dental care section of nearly every grocery and pharmacy. It is easy to use with any kind of floss.

How to Use a Floss Threader

• Pull off about 12 to 18 inches of the thread (quite a lot!). Wrap most of the length up using the middle finger of one hand. Leave about an inch of dental floss to use, by wrapping the remaining thread around the middle finger on your other hand – As in the image adjacent…
• Make this inch taut by using the index fingers and thumbs.
• It does not matter where you start, but stick to a routine and go between each tooth in turn. Therefore you are less likely to miss any areas.
• Insert one end of the dental floss about five inches into the loop of the threader.
• Now, gently slide the thread between the teeth. Pass the floss threader under or over any dental appliance such as braces, permanent retainer
  Do not try to force it.
• Gently press the floss down to the gum. Stop when you feel some resistance. The aim is now to clean the surfaces of BOTH of the teeth in each space. Do this by holding it against one surface and at the same time pulling it out away from the gum. Then do the same for the other tooth.
• This movement up away from the gum will scrape the plaque and debris of each tooth surface.
• For each gap, use a fresh length of material by passing it along between the middle fingers.
• Include the back surfaces of the very back teeth
• Remove the threader from the floss and floss gently back and forth and up and down into the gumline between the teeth.
• Repeat the process.