Gum health! Wee!

Message

#1 Post by **arddunaid** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:19 pm

I did a quick search for 'gums' in this forum, and I didn't find my question. I'm sure you hear this a lot, but I'm sorry if this is a repeated topic!

Okiedoke- When I first started orthodontic treatment in February, I only had my bottom arch braced, and I got an appliance on top. I didn't have great cleaning habits or great gums before, but having all that hardware REALLY helped teach me good hygiene. I brushed my teeth twice daily, with special care at night, and flossed once or twice a week. As a result, when my top braces went on in September, my upper gums were probably the healthiest that they've ever been.

I'm just a little uncertain about my LOWER gums, which didn't get the benefit of all that unbraced attention. Should the upper and lower gum tissue match? Right now, my upper gums are a nice pink color, they're firm and don't really move, and I dunno... They just look different than my bottom gums. My bottom gums have a smoother surface, are slightly darker, and don't quite come to SHARP points between the teeth.

Is it normal for the upper and lower gum tissue to look different, or do my lower gums just need some more TLC?

Also another gum health question-

For a long time I just brushed and flossed with traditional floss. I had problems with some fancy fluffy flosses getting stuck on my braces and leaving little fibers in my mouth, so I just went back to using plain old floss. I didn't floss super-regularly because it was pretty time consuming, and my dental hygienist recommended GUM soft-picks in lieu of traditional floss. I think she intended it as a sort of "well this is better than NOTHING" sort of deal.

When I can I use traditional floss and the soft picks. I think the floss cleans better in front and the soft picks work better between molars and just to massage the gums everywhere else.

Anyone know if those picks would be effective without flossing? Orr.... Anyone think they could be damaging my gums a bit? Perhaps why my bottom gums don't have great points?

And one question for everyone braced or post-braces-

Was it really hard to keep healthy teeth and gums? Did you have to just really be diligent with your cleaning, or were you fine with regular brushing and flossing once or twice a week? Anyone fight a losing battle?

#2 Post by **UGHBRACES** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:04 pm

I am really thorough with oral hygiene. I brush after every meal using my electric toothbrush the ortho gave me(so 3, sometimes 4 times a day), and in between i don't eat anything and i only drink water. I floss after i brush every night and then use an oral b fluoride mouth rinse. Leave nothing to chance, its worth the effort.

#3 Post by **arddunaid** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:22 pm

Wow, that really IS thorough. I bet it will be worth the effort, though. Thanks for the response.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:36 pm

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#5 Post by **arddunaid** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:55 pm

I've seen a lot of mention of the "black triangles" on this board, and to be honest that just never occurred to me! I don't think I have had such drastic movement on the bottom, just some moderate crowding evened out over six months or so, and the teeth contact pretty well. It's possible, though.

I hope your gums can fill back in, but if they don't it is awesome that you're not worrying too much. Sometimes I worry about the really super-perfectionist users on here, it has to be very difficult to go through so much inconvenience and still be unhappy. It almost makes me glad that I had a pretty bad case to begin with. I certainly won't have any regrets!

Thanks a lot for your response!

#6 Post by **braciefacie** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:00 pm

I think as long as your gums don't look infected/inflammed (i.e. bright or dark red), it should be ok.

In terms of the picks, I use them all the time as well but I also floss every night. Although the picks are great at getting food particles out (from the braces) and cleaning along the gum line and tooth surface, it does not clean in between the teeth.

My usual routine involves brushing twice a day (morning and night), and cleaning using soft pick/interdental brush after each meal. At night, I brush twice using two different brushes (standard orthodontic brush and another very thin-brissled one), use interdental brush/pick to clean along the gums and teeth for anything I've missed, then I floss and use mouth wash to finish off.

I've always been concerned about cavities and periodontic issues - and having braces just increases the risk of developing these problems, so I'm pretty pedantic about having a thorough clean, especially at night. It's not hard once it becomes routine - just persevere and be diligent and your teeth and gums should be nice and healthy once you get your braces off!

#7 Post by **TheNewEmperor** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:14 am

I'm with you - the small brushes are great for between teeth but to really scale back the plaque that is on the very front surface of the teeth there is *nothing* like floss. Really, if we are braced or not, we should be flossing once a day - it is a great habit to get in to and only takes a few minutes. The first few times with braces is hard but pretty soon you find ways to be quick and effective so it doesn't take long at all.

I really wish that *everyone* would take better care to floss and brush - getting on a crowded peak hour train can be an absolute nightmare...I'm not talking about morning breath....too many people obviously have dental issues that they are not addressing.... :shudder:

#8 Post by **arddunaid** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:27 pm

Hahaha, yes, flossing is more than worth the effort.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 6:13 pm

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