Toothbrushes

Message

#1 Post by **mmg4eva** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:22 am

Im not so sure how to brush my teeth with braces on and what kind of tooth brush to get. I get my braces on today.

#2 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:34 am

Try looking in the dental do-dads section, tons of posts about it there.

#3 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:14 am

I use both a manual soft toothbrush and an electric toothbrush with a rotary head (oral-B). I use the electric one at night and the manual one other times.

I brush as I did before on the insides of my teeth, but on the outsides I do each arch twice. The first time I do the bottom half of the teeth, angling the brush slightly so that the bristles go up under the wire. Then I do the top half of the teeth angling the brush head downward slightly - again to get under the wire. You can get orthodontic V-cut toothbrushes which have shorter bristles in the middle, but personally I didn't get on with it.

Your ortho might give you a goodie bag anyway to get you started, and oral hygiene once braced isn't that difficult. It just takes a bit of getting used to. You'll soon find your own method that works for you.

Good luck today!

#4 Post by **SandraJones** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:10 pm

I just use my regular toothbrush. However, my flossing arsenal has expanded greatly:

Reach CleanPaste floss (not recommended because it shreds)
Glide skinny waxed floss
GUM floss threaders
Oral-B threaded floss
tweezers (for picking out shreds)
small pointy scissors (for cutting stuck floss)

I tried using a hemostat but stopped using it when I accidentally clamped my cheek !

#5 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:51 pm

Oh Sandra, I can relate to how my floss tools have taken over the bathroom cabinet as well!

#6 Post by **ldowns99** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:17 pm

Hi! I use a Sonicare electric toothbrush in the mornings and a manual one at night, but everyone has different preferences. To clean between my teeth and get food out after meals, I use a Water Pik for really messy meals and Gum Go-Betweens (tiny brushes) on a more regular basis to get in between my teeth and clean around the brackets. I love those and they're much easier for me to use than floss (though I do try to floss as much as I can too - it just takes longer). Best of luck to you with your new braces!

#7 Post by **Thathrill** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:02 pm

I use a manual oral b brush (regular soft bristles) and the electric crest spin brush. I have received a A+ on my oral hygiene from the dentist and the hygienist. I think using a combo of both really helps.