Flossing around molar bands?

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Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:24 am

Hi hi guys. The search facility isnâ€™t working for me for some reason, so apologies if this has been answered somewhere already.

I got my braces in yesterday morning and started flossing last night. I havenâ€™t had many issues, but I do have one question â€“ is it even possible to floss between the back molars where the â€œanchorâ€

#2 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:09 am

I floss as much as I can around the molar band without snagging it. Then I use my waterpik (on low) with the perio tip to get in around the gum area of the bottom of the band. Not sure if that's how to use the perio tip but it seems to be working for me in getting all the junk out!

#3 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:32 am

I get the same thing. I can get the floss down between the teeth, but if I try to pull the floss up, it ends up shredding. I just pull the floss from between my teeth without going back up. (And hope that brushing and using fluoride mouthwash does the rest.)

#4 Post by **platinum** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:05 pm

yep.

I got elastics today. I got new wires, too. SS 17 both archs, lower rectangular and top round. I have to wear elastics on teh right side for 24h and left side for 12 h in ordeer to correct midlines.

Finally getting there!!!

#5 Post by **SandraJones** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:20 pm

I think the easiest way to floss around banded molars is to use a floss threader and drive it between the teeth at the gumline.

When I first got my braces I was unable to pull the floss toward the gums between my banded first molars and unbanded seconds, that's when I acquired the technique above. I can do it now though, but might not soon because my second molars are going to be banded.

#6 Post by **Lisa65** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:38 pm

I use the same method to floss between my banded molars as I do on the rest of my teeth. I use a threader which I thread up under the archwire. Then I let go of the threader and kind of "ping" the floss in between my teeth with my fingers. The threader doesn't go between my teeth at all, it's just a way of getting the floss under the wire more easily.

Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:53 am

That was my thinking, meryatenâ€¦ Thereâ€™s more space and little crevices for stuff to get stuck, especially at the gumline. I tried flossing again bust just canâ€™t seem to get the floss around the bottom of the band. Iâ€™ll try the threader-floss-at-the-gumline technique. However, if that doesnâ€™t work I *do* also have a waterpik so if I canâ€™t get the floss up there properly hopefully the water will blast it out.

Thanks for the responses you guys!

I also had a little trouble between my first two molars on each side, because the bracket seems a bit high and the combination of that and three wires made it difficult to move the floss around to where I need it, but got there in the end. I had no idea it could take so long just to brush and floss before hehe

#8 Post by **SolarFeline** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:29 am

madefromconcentrate I use a product called Oral-B Superfloss.

From the Oral-B website USA

http://www.oralb.com/us/products/produc ... superfloss

Hope this helps.