Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi I have a couple of quick questions.

I have bands on 3 of my molars and I can't seem to floss around them. I can't get the floss between the banded tooth and the tooth on either side. Is this normal? Is there anything else I can do to clean between them?

My wife has a water pick and I was wondering how effective they are? Flossing with the special floss takes me forever and I was wondering if a water pick would do as good a job or if it's not as good as regular floss. Is it a good substitute for flossing?

Thanks!!!
Matt

I just got my braces installed yesterday. Last evening, I tried using dental floss to floss around the molar bands but couldn't. (Interdental brushes worked though.) Maybe after the teeth start moving more, there could be sufficient space for flossing (using dental floss) to take place.

Waterpik should be effective in sweeping out any remaining food. It is not meant to entirely replace flossing.

There might be some extra bonding material between those molars, from cementing the molar bands into place. Also, when the teeth begin moving a bit, should make some space. I had the extra material and it eventually came out on it's own. Good luck!

Sounds like I'm not the only one having this problem. I tried and tried to get the floss in there last night but all I did was shred the floss and have nasty bits hanging from my hooks.

Cat

Hi there!!!

First, congratulations on being braced! I have been braced for one year exactly and am so glad I made the leap!!

I have 9 molar bands in all so I know how frustrating flossing can be. If you go to Walmart you can buy a package of 35 floss threaders for about $1.90. If you take one of the threaders and gently slide it through your teeth at the gum line you will be able to floss in between the bands. These things have been a life saver for me!!!

Good luck to you!!!

Thanks. I'm glad I got them and made the leap too!!

My teeth aren't bad but there's a few things I really don't like and my bite is off on one side so elastics there some day.

Thanks for answering about the water pick. I guess I'll get lots of time to practice with the threading floss.

Good info about the floss threaders. I got some at CVS I think and they were kind of expensive. I'll definitely take your advice and check wall-mart. I'll have to try that trick about flossing the banded teeth. I've shredded so much floss trying I guess a few more tries won't hurt.

9 bands - wow!!! Guess I lucked out with just 3 bands. One tooth has a "weird shaped crown" so just a bracket on it. Supposed to get brackets on the other molars and wisdom teeth later in the treatment. Hopefully no bands. hehe

Thanks for the answers and suggestions gang! I appreciate it.

Matt

I had extra cement between my teeth that were banded and tried to saw the floss in every day for about 2 or three days and finally the floss went through. Just be persistent and don't give up flossing there.

Yes! I was finally able to get the floss through at the gumline. I had to pull with a lot of force but eventually a grey piece came out. I'm guessing it was the bonding material. Sure felt good to floss there again!! Thanks all!!