Can You Use a Water Flosser With Braces?
Short answer
Yes. The American Dental Association lists water flossers as an option for people with braces, and Mayo Clinic notes they can help when braces make string floss hard to use. In a 2008 study of teenagers with braces, a water flosser removed more plaque around the brackets than string floss.
Why is cleaning around braces so hard?
Brackets and wires create extra places for plaque and food to collect, and they block the path string floss normally takes between teeth. Threading floss under the wire at every gap takes time, which is why many people with braces skip it.
What does the research show?
A study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in 2008 followed 105 adolescents with fixed braces for four weeks. The group that added a water flosser to brushing had significantly less plaque and less gum bleeding than the group that brushed and used string floss.
The American Dental Association adds that water flossers carrying its Seal have been tested to be safe and effective at removing plaque, and can help reduce gingivitis.
How do you use a water flosser with braces?
- Fill the reservoir with lukewarm water.
- Lean over the sink and close your lips around the tip so water does not spray.
- Start on the gentlest setting. The Oral-B Water Flosser Advanced has Sensitive, Medium and Intense modes.
- Aim the stream along the gumline, then trace around each bracket, above and below the wire.
- Work from the back teeth forward, top then bottom.
Do you still need floss with braces?
Many people use both. A water flosser is quick for daily cleaning around brackets, and pre-threaded orthodontic flossers slide under the wire to clean the contact point between two teeth without threading floss by hand.
Is a water flosser safe on braces?
Yes, used as directed. Start on a low setting and increase it as your gums get used to it.
Sources and evidence
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, "Water Flossers and Water Flossing": braces, ADA Seal, plaque and gingivitis.
- Mayo Clinic, "Dental floss vs. water flosser: Which is better?" (2024): braces and dental work.
- Sharma and colleagues, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2008;133(4):565-571: 105 adolescents with braces, four weeks.
Related questions
Is a water flosser better than string floss?
In a clinical study it removed more plaque than string floss. See the full answer.
Should you floss before or after brushing?
Floss first. See the full answer.
Is an electric toothbrush good for braces?
The American Dental Association names people with braces among those who may find a powered brush easier. See electric vs manual.
Relevant products
General information only, not dental advice.