Cleaning routine

[schoolglue]

Hello! New to the forums and I love it already! I learned a ton of stuff just reading and now I'm excited for my braces on spacers tomorrow (ouchh) and my braces on the 12th.

I have a question though, what do you do for your cleaning routine? I recently purchased a Waterpik because of its good reviews in the forum so I'm excited to use it. Besides using the Waterpik and brushing, do you have any special things you do to keep your braces extra clean? I'd love to hear some good tips and more info on what to use. Thanks!

[hippyhippo]

My cleaning routine is pretty much as follows...

After breakfast:
* Waterpik, water w/ capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide added
* Brush with Electric toothbrush
* Brush with manual ortho-cut tooth brush quickly over brackets (I'm not convinced my electric is getting my brackets 100% clean)
* Electric toothbrush with interdental attachment for between brackets
* Rinse with no-name antibacterial mouthwash

Other meals (when I'm home):
* Waterpik, 100% water
* Brush with manual ortho-cut toothbrush

Other meals (when I'm out):
* Brush with travel ortho-cut toothbrush
* Use travel proxi brush between brackets

Before bed:
* Waterpik, 100% water
* Brush with Electric toothbrush
* Brush with manual ortho-cut tooth brush quickly over brackets
* Electric toothbrush with interdental attachment for between brackets
* Floss using a floss-threader and dentotape
* Rinse with oral-b mouthwash w/ fluoride


Other than that, I just try to drink water after snacks to help keep my brackets clean. I also chew sugar-free gum on occasion, which is supposed to help by stimulating salvia production.

[Wyo_Stacy]

All of the sudden I am feeling lazy but I don't know why.
I brush in the morning and as often as possible after meals, (both with a plain toothbrush) but that doesn't happen as often as it should. Then at bedtime I floss, brush with an electric brush and use Phos Flur mouthwash. I also have proxybrushes almost everywhere that I use to get food that is stuck. I would think that I'm not doing enough, but staff at my ortho's office have commented that after two years my brackets still look like they did the day they were put on.

[schoolglue]

Awesome! I just got my spacers on today and I'll get my braces next week. I think I'll start getting into my routine now so I'm ready for them on Tuesday.

[schoolglue]

Haha! I've actually stocked up on water bottles and lip balm from reading your posts. Thanks for the tips!

[Willz]

Wow, how lazy am I! I brush in the morning and mouthwash and after every meal. I floss and use the little brush the dentist gave me at night.

[Lisa65]

Mornings (I don't eat breakfast)
brush with manual toothbrush and swish with mouthwash

after meals
visual check, swish with water, Waterpik if I'm at home, sometimes quick brush with manual toothbrush

Before bed
Waterpik
Floss
Interdental (2 different sizes)
Brush with Sonicare toothbrush and then again with manual
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide and scrub tongue with it too
Fluoride mouthwash

So I just have one thorough routine last thing at night and the rest of the time I brush as and when I feel it necessary.

I use a disclosing tablet once a week or so to make sure I'm not missing any bits.

[Iccle_Peanut]

Hi....i'm confused....i brought a waterpik and i've been using it after brushing....is this not right?

I've changed my routine now to - floss, rinse, brush, waterpik and then mouthwash. I'm not braced yet but have been trying to use the waterpik however i can't seem to use it on the insides of my teeth without it spraying all over my bathroom I've read that some of your floss first before brushing? My dentist told me to brush, floss and rinse...is this wrong?

Oh i invested in a electric sonicare toothbrush yesterday....got it home and it's got a two pin plug on it i wasn't happy