So you’re sitting at home with a mouthful of braces and a spindle of floss. You might be thinking: Why is it so important to floss if my teeth are covered with brackets and wire? You’re not the first patient to ask, and you won’t be the last, so here are three reasons that you shouldn’t skimp out on flossing.

Keep Your Pearly-Whites Pearly

If you don’t floss, your teeth may look like a patchwork quilt after your braces have been removed. The debris stuck behind your braces can cause discolouration in just those spots. Whitening those spots could prove a challenge since that unsightly yellow is the result of years of neglect. Don’t you want to be able to flash your smile proudly the second that your braces come off?

The Dreaded Gingivitis

Now that you have braces, the surface area of your teeth is drastically increased. Now there are tons of nooks and crannies where bacteria and food particles can nest. That means mouthwash and brushing are going to need some serious back-up. If you don’t floss regularly, that debris will start to eat away at your teeth and gums, resulting in a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Not only are these conditions painful and unsightly, your teeth and gums will weaken significantly, rendering your braces treatment a huge waste of time and money.

Protect Your Braces

Your teeth aren’t the only things that need a little TLC. The same bacteria and sugars that break down your enamel can actually break down your braces! Over time, they can eat away at the adhesive between the brackets and the surface of your teeth. This could result in your braces literally coming unglued! You can imagine the negative effect that would have on your treatment.

If you want the best out of your orthodontic treatment, make sure you are taking proper care of your equipment. That means regular brushing and flossing. Now that you know why it’s so important to floss, it’s time to wield that floss threader like never before and get cleaning!