Metal Mouth Message Board

I have to say, the waterpik is a great thing. I am using it 2x a day to blast gunk out of my hardware, and I just got a portable one to blast it out at work after lunch. Even after I brush carefully with my electric toothbrush, I still get food bits out with the waterpik. Eeew.

I don't use the highest pressure setting, and I concentrate on getting the gunk out of the brackets on the molar bands and the wire appliance inside on the roof of my mouth. I just do the gums once a day. My gums are not sore in any way.

These wires are real food magnets, and I am sure the delight will only double once I get a matching wire on the bottom inside.

Can you use the thing too often?

My ortho warned me not to use high pressure and never aim it on the gums. Try getting the water at right angles to the brackets, not straight on, was his advice. Also, water pik as you probably know does not substitute for flossing. Personally, if it died, I would replace it the same day! Can't imagine all this metal without one.

I can see how it might cause gum problems- even at the lower setting if I temporarily miss my aim and hit my tongue or something it can hurt!

So why do the instructions tell you to aim for the gumline?

I will have to teach the kids to use it carefully. I definitely has advantages, but you have to be careful.

Since getting braced my teeth are soooo tight to gether- i can floss more eaisly now, but those first coupel of days I couldn't get the floss in between my teeth- there was just no way of doing it- the floss would break every time. It's better now, but still a challenge.

Thanks for the answers!

My waterpick was very useful when I had braces, but now that I am debanded, I use it to blast my retainers. I have an upper hawley with some added acrylic on the front where the wire goes along the teeth. It becomes a plaque magnet and no amount of brushing can get it clean. The water pick works like a power washer to blast out all the crap that accumulates.