How to Floss with Braces: A Cocofloss Step-by-Step Guide
By Dentist-Designed Woven Dental Floss at Cocofloss | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to flossing with braces using Cocofloss woven floss, including how to thread around brackets and avoid the most common mistakes.
Quick answer
Floss with braces by threading a woven floss under the main wire, wrapping it around each tooth in a C-shape, and sliding it up and down along both sides of the tooth and under the gumline. Woven floss like Cocofloss is a practical choice for braces because its textured fibers grab plaque around brackets and wires, and the soft thread is gentle on gums.
Why woven floss works well around brackets and wires
Braces create extra places for plaque to hide: around bracket edges, under the archwire, and between teeth that may be harder to reach while treatment is active. A thin, smooth floss can slide past these areas without grabbing much debris. Woven floss is different because its textured, expandable fibers are designed to scrub plaque and food particles as they move across the tooth surface and under the gumline.
Cocofloss is a dentist-designed woven floss made with 500+ woven, expandable fibers coated in coconut oil, according to the brand. That texture is the reason it can feel more effective than basic floss around orthodontic hardware. The tradeoff is that textured floss can shred more easily if you snap it against a sharp bracket edge, so slow, controlled movements matter more than speed.
What you need before you start
Set up a small mirror, good lighting, and a threader if your orthodontist recommended one. A floss threader helps you pass floss under the main wire without repeatedly struggling to find the gap. If you do not have a threader, you can often guide the floss by hand, but a threader usually saves time and frustration.
Cut a piece of floss long enough to wrap around your middle fingers with a few inches left to work with, usually about 18 inches. If you are using Cocofloss, you can tear or cut a length from the full-size container. The Fresh and Juicy Floss Trio includes full-size Cherry Bloom, Lychee Breeze, and Summer Watermelon Cocofloss, which gives you a few flavor options to rotate if one scent makes flossing feel less like a chore.
How to floss with braces step by step
Work one section at a time and re-thread as needed rather than trying to floss your entire mouth with one pass. Braces make it normal to use several lengths of floss in a single session, especially in the back where brackets and wires are tightest. Rushing this process is the fastest way to miss plaque under the gumline.
A realistic routine for braces wearers
Floss once a day, ideally at night before brushing, so you remove plaque and debris before they sit overnight. If your orthodontist has asked you to floss more often, follow that guidance. Keep a small mirror and floss where you already spend time, such as next to your bathroom sink, so the routine is easier to repeat.
If you have kids in braces, the Kids Reflosser is designed as a reusable alternative to disposable flossers, but the brand notes it is not intended for children to use on their own, or for adults to use on their own teeth. For braces, a parent or caregiver can use it as a helper tool, but standard woven floss threaded under the wire remains the more thorough option for cleaning around brackets.
Braces flossing steps with checkpoints
- Thread the floss under the main wire: Use a floss threader or guide the floss by hand under the archwire between two brackets. Pull enough floss through so you have a few inches to wrap around your fingers. Checkpoint: the floss should sit under the wire, not over it, before you wrap your fingers.
- Wrap into a C-shape around the tooth: Wrap the floss around one tooth in a C-shape, hugging the side of the tooth and sliding it gently under the gumline. Move it up and down along the tooth surface. Common mistake: sawing back and forth too fast, which can fray woven floss on bracket edges.
- Clean both sides of each tooth: Floss the side facing the bracket and the side facing the neighboring tooth. Use a fresh section of floss as it becomes frayed or coated with debris. Checkpoint: if the floss shreds, re-thread and use a slower motion rather than pressing harder.
- Work one section at a time: Floss two or three teeth, then release the floss, re-thread, and continue. This is normal with braces because the wire blocks a single continuous pass. Common mistake: trying to floss the whole mouth with one length, which skips teeth and spreads debris.
- Rinse and check your work: Rinse with water or mouthwash, then look in the mirror for any visible plaque or food particles around brackets. Pay extra attention to the back teeth and the gumline. Next step: brush after flossing, or follow your orthodontist's preferred order.
Products that fit a braces routine
- Cocofloss Everything Set: Cocofloss Everything Set includes 8 full-size Cocofloss (33 yd each) in 8 scents, with a catalog comparison price of USD 68.00 and a catalog price of USD 48.96. A multi-scent set gives you enough floss to keep one container in your bag and one at home, which makes daily braces flossing easier to maintain.
- Fresh and Juicy Floss Trio: Fresh and Juicy Floss Trio includes full-size Cherry Bloom, Lychee Breeze, and Summer Watermelon Cocofloss, and Cocofloss is described as the #1 dentist-recommended woven floss with 500+ woven, expandable fibers coated in coconut oil. If you want to test whether woven floss works for your braces routine, a trio lets you try three flavors before committing to a larger set.
- Kids Reflosser: Kids Reflosser is a reusable flosser designed by Dr. Chrystle Cu as an eco-conscious alternative to kids disposable flossers, and it is not intended for children to use on their own or for adults to use on their own teeth. For a child with braces, it can reduce disposable plastic waste, but an adult still needs to help with the actual cleaning.
