Using a Floss Threader Behind the Teeth

Why ordinary floss does not work with a bonded wire

Normal floss is pushed down between two teeth from the biting edge. A bonded retainer wire runs across the tongue side of the teeth and is glued to each one, so the floss has nowhere to go: it stops at the wire and cannot slide through the contact point.

A threader solves this by letting you feed the floss from the front of the teeth, under the wire, and out toward the tongue side. Once the floss is through, it can be wrapped around each tooth and moved up and down along the side.

How to use a floss threader step by step

The routine is slow at first and becomes quicker with practice. Most people find it easiest in front of a mirror with good light, at a time of day when they are not rushed.

The steps below describe the usual approach. Your dentist or hygienist may suggest a small variation to suit the shape of your teeth and the position of the wire.

• Cut a length of floss and thread one end through the loop of the threader.
• Guide the stiff end between two teeth and under the wire, toward the tongue side.
• Pull the floss through, hold it in both hands and wrap it around one tooth in a C shape.
• Slide it gently along the tooth side, then lift it out and repeat on the next gap.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The usual errors are forcing the threader, snapping floss down onto the gums and rushing past the back teeth. Pushing hard can bruise the gum and, in the worst case, put stress on the glued joints. If the threader will not pass, stop and try a slightly different angle rather than pressing harder.

Another frequent mistake is cleaning only the gaps that are easy to reach. Aim to clean every gap that the wire crosses, once a day, since the awkward ones are where deposits tend to settle.

Is a floss threader enough on its own?

For many people it is a useful tool, but the evidence that one cleaning tool is clearly better than another for bonded wires is limited, and personal preference and comfort matter. Some people find threaders fiddly and switch to a small interdental brush or a different aid, and that is a reasonable choice if it means they actually clean daily.

No tool replaces brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day or regular visits to the dental team. A hygienist can scale off any hardened deposits that home cleaning cannot remove.

Where supplements fit, if at all

Some readers wonder whether an oral probiotic could do part of the work. Research on oral probiotics is still developing and the evidence is limited or mixed, and none of it replaces cleaning between the teeth. One example is ProDentim, which the seller describes as a chewable oral probiotic supplement; those statements are the seller's claims and have not been verified here. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, takes medicines, has a medical condition or has allergies should ask a dentist, doctor or pharmacist first.

Questions readers ask