How to use a water flosser with braces

Ask your orthodontist first

Your orthodontist or their team will tell you how to clean around your braces and which tools they suggest, which may include interdental brushes, single-tufted brushes, floss threaders or a water flosser. The NHS advises brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth, and says your dental team can recommend the best method for you.

A water flosser is one option. It does not replace brushing, and it is not a treatment.

Choose the right tip

Many water flossers come with, or offer, an orthodontic tip. Waterpik's version has a small tapered brush at the end of the jet tip, which helps you work around brackets. Other brands sell similar tips; check that the tip fits your model.

A standard jet tip also works, but the brush tip makes it easier to guide the flow around each bracket. Change tips as the manual advises, as brush tips wear faster than plain jets.

Step by step

These steps follow the general technique water flosser makers describe. Check your manual for details.

1. 1

   Fill the tank with lukewarm water.

2. 2

   Fit the orthodontic tip and set the lowest pressure.

3. 3

   Lean over the sink and place the tip in your mouth before switching on.

4. 4

   Close your lips enough to stop splashing, letting water drain into the sink.

5. 5

   Start at the back teeth and trace along the gumline, pausing briefly between teeth.

6. 6

   Go back along each tooth, guiding the jet over the top of each bracket, then the bottom.

7. 7

   Run the jet along under the wire between brackets.

8. 8

   Do the inside surfaces of the teeth.

9. 9

   Switch off before taking the tip out of your mouth.

Pressure and comfort

Start low and increase slowly over several days if it feels comfortable. Higher is not better if it is uncomfortable. Around braces, a moderate setting with a slow, steady movement is usually easier to control than a strong jet.

If your gums bleed or feel sore, tell your orthodontist or dentist rather than turning the pressure up or down on your own judgement. Our article on how a water flosser works explains pressure settings.

Brushing with braces

Brushing is still the main step. Many people with braces use an electric toothbrush; see can you use an electric toothbrush with braces?. Brush around each bracket from above and below, then flush with the flosser, or follow the order your orthodontist suggests.

Some people like a combined unit. The Waterpik Sonic-Fusion 2.0, in our best sonic electric toothbrush guide, has a sonic brush head with a flosser tip inside it and modes to brush, floss or both.

See the Sonic-Fusion 2.0 →

Keeping it tidy and clean

Water flossing with braces takes longer, so expect some splashes at first. Keep a towel nearby and lean well over the sink. Empty the tank after each use and let it dry, and descale it regularly in hard water areas; see how to clean a water flosser.

If you are choosing between flosser designs, cordless vs countertop water flosser covers tank size and pressure range, which matter more with braces because sessions are longer.

Making it part of a routine

Water flossing with braces works best when it becomes a fixed part of the day rather than an occasional extra. Many people find the evening easiest, after the last meal, when there is time for a slower session. Keep the flosser where you brush, with the orthodontic tip already fitted, so there is no setup each time. Expect the first week to feel slow and messy; most people get quicker as they learn where the jet needs to go around each bracket. If you play sport or travel during treatment, a cordless flosser is easier to take with you, while a countertop model gives a longer session from one fill at home.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a water flosser with braces? Many orthodontists include one in a braces routine. Ask yours what they recommend.

What is an orthodontic tip? A jet tip with a small brush at the end that helps guide water around brackets.

Should I water floss before or after brushing? Makers say either works. Follow your orthodontist's suggested order.

Can I add mouthwash for braces? Check your manual and ask your orthodontist. See can you put mouthwash in a water flosser?.