don't tell me I will become a slave to my braces

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#1 Post by **nuttynat** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:20 am

Ok so I'm a recently wired (8 Jan 2010) 30 year old and I just want to know one small thing about this 'journey' I'm about to embark on...

I want to know if people have forgotten to brushtheir teeth at night, have forgotten to floss often, ate something they shouldn't have, got something stuck in their braces (emabarrasingly or not), cleaned your teeth and yet felt like they weren't really clean and that they have got through without having to buy expensive electric toothbrushes or waterpiks etc.

Will this feeling of being enslaved to your braces fade?

I just want to hear what others have to say on going back to feeling normal once you've had braces put on and that sometimes life is life.

Did any of that make sense?

#2 Post by **gracey82** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:01 am

Braced or not braced, I think all of that is essential of taking care your oral hygiene. You wont like to frequent the dentist to get that hole filled, the plaque removed, have gum problems etc.

I think I will keep up my routine even after the braces is gone. Ever since I got my braces and taken much better care of my teeth, the routine scaling and polishing has been much bearable and easy

#3 Post by **gracey82** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:04 am

Oh I also used to think buying expensive toothbrush is just an overstatements. But after I started invested one in Sonic toothbrush, my dentist told me my gum has been healthier and able to rid of stubborn plaque! I dont use waterpik, not sure if its another overstatement but I think is something u can live without if you dont have the money as long as u floss or use the interdental brush.

#4 Post by **smithie** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:31 am

I've had no real problems so far. Diet is unchanged from before, I reliably brushed twice/day before anyway, so that's no change, flossing took about a week to adjust to and now I can do it almost as fast as without braces. I do get things stuck in my teeth, but fortunately I have a private office at work so I can shut the door as I attend to that.

I do have an electric toothbrush, but my orthodontist didn't seem to think that it would do any better of a job than a standard model. Honestly, the thing I like most about it is the built-in timer.

#5 Post by **evilnel** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:09 am

I don't feel like I'm a slave to them. I definitely think about my teeth a lot more, but it's mostly in relation to what I eat and when I will have time to brush. I find my diet is pretty much the same, except I avoid popcorn, candies (hard and chewy), and really hard raw veggies/tough meats. I still eat sandwiches and burgers and pretty much whatever I want. As for cleaning, I find my routine is flexible. I always brush, floss, and use a fluouride rinse before bed, but other than that, I clean as needed. I agree with Gracey--these are good habits to have anyway (who needs to eat candy and not floss?!) so yes, I pay more attention to my teeth, but I don't feel enslaved by it. I think it's awkward at first, but you get used to it and it becomes a part of your life rather than an interruption from your normal routine.

#6 Post by **felicia** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:28 am

I'm 4 months into braces. In my first 3 months I flossed, used the mini brush, the rubber covered little toothpicks and I brushed after every meal(about 3 times a day), and at night I also used the mouthwash. But starting with the fourth month...I got lazy...I do all those things at bedtime, and the rest of the day after every meal I only brush. I hope I'm not going to pay later for my laziness. To be honest, I feel just as clean as I felt when I did all that routine 3 times a day. I believe that as long as I clean thoroughly at night, I'll be fine, and I'll have no problems.

#7 Post by **hae703** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:35 pm

I've only had my braces for about 5 weeks, but I'm horrible at keeping up with proper cleaning. It seems to take forever to get them cleaned well especially when I floss as well so sometimes with a toddler running around I keep putting it off until it's late and I realize I only brushed my teeth once or twice that day when I was told to do it 3-4 times a day. I've been considering getting the Sonicare Toothbrush, but I hate the idea of spending more money on my teeth at this point.

Heather

Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:04 pm

My ortho would be ashamed of the mistakes I've made! There have been nights where I didn't floss, brush my teeth, or rinse my teeth/braces with PhosFlur. I use a regular $4 toothbrush and I use traditional floss threaders and floss. I have been blessed, I guess, in that my teeth have been on fire. My ortho and dentist have both praised me for how well my teeth have moved and how clean they look. I don't think you'll get a failing grade in Braces 101 for forgetting to maintain your teeth a few times....but I wouldn't make it a habit. It took me about 2-3 months to stop obsessing with everything.

To put things into perspective...there are millions of teenagers who get braces. I would bet money that 90 percent of them don't regularly brush or floss and their teeth turn out beautifully for the most part. I don't think you should worry too much--but don't not take care of those chompers