hello! need cleaning tips

[oldbirdwithbraces]

Hi im new to this board. im 37 so quite old to be having braces. I had them fitted about 9 weeks ago and just been for my first tightening. They have just replaced the wire with a bigger wire and my teeth hurt. Is that all tightening is? I was only in there for 5 minutes. It's NHS always feels very rushed and ortho doesnt tell me what he's doing. He did say i need to clean better, I thought i was. Does anyone have any tips for cleaning braces? I have fixed train tracks, no elastics yet. Im got them on for 2 years then have to have a jaw op. then braces stay on for another 6 months.

[oldbirdwithbraces]

anyone?!!

[SinkFullOfDinner]

First, get a waterpik or similar water flosser. I think most will agree that it does wonders for fire-hosing out food. Then use it, brush, and finally use a little interdental brush to brush in between the brackets. You can it all done in under 5 min. Floss whenever you can, but I don't every time. My dentist has raved about the results.

[carrieann]

I love my waterpick! I'm a clean freak when it comes to my teeth. I Waterpick first, then floss with oral b glide pro health threader floss, it's my favorite and so easy to use. Then I brush with a oral b electric toothbrush using ortho heads. Took me 4 weeks to be able to use an electric toothbrush as my teeth were too sensitive. Then rinse with mouthwash, I use Act with flouride.

When in a hurry at work I just rinse a ton, then manually brush and then mouthwash.

[oldbirdwithbraces]

thank you. Where would i get a waterpik from? and how do you floss? teeth currently really sensitive after tightening. last night i cleaned them normally and cleaned round the brackets with a little tiny toothbrush and mouthwash. This morning it was so painful i only managed to clean them with normal toothbrush.

[Chippy3000]

Hi!

My routine involves brushing three times a day, flossing and using a small round tipped brush to get in and under brackets once a day. It's also a good idea to rinse with water after eating. I also use mouthwash once a day. When they are really sore I stop flossing and use the very soft brush.

I use an electric toothbrush (although not everyone recommends them) and a very soft bristled brush. When I first got them I was really scared that I would knock the brackets off but now I just clean like I did normally although toothpaste gets everywhere!

Waterpick's have really good reputation you can find them on Amazon and I think Boots may also stock them. I have never used one but my dentist is happy with my oral hygenie with my routine above but it's definitely worth a look!

Hope this helps!

[oldbirdwithbraces]

thank you all its really helped. My teeth were so sore last night. I couldn't sleep!!

[carrieann]

thank you. Where would i get a waterpik from? and how do you floss? teeth currently really sensitive after tightening. last night i cleaned them normally and cleaned round the brackets with a little tiny toothbrush and mouthwash. This morning it was so painful i only managed to clean them with normal toothbrush.

Got my Waterpick at jet.com, great site. As for flossing, in the beginning slow and carefully. In a few days when your pain subsides it will become quicker. Brushing will get easier too, I promise. Just use the hard end of the floss and thread through. I hardly notice I have braces anymore and soon you won't either.

[oldbirdwithbraces]

ive just bought one from amazon. i had totally got used to my braces but now struggling to eat again!!!!

[LisainTX]

Hi Old Bird! (you're a young chicken!)
I've been braced for 4 months as of yesterday. They did mine like you - started with brackets and a wire then they put in a heavier wire. I thought that was what "tightening" was and wondered what all the hubbub was about. Then last week they added "power chains" and did some tightening of those after they were put on. I will be honest and say its not fun and when you are an adult with a bunch of kids with braces in the chairs next to you its hard not to swear. Its an experience.
I invested in a sonicare toothbrush the week I got my braces and was amazed at what it did. I always brushed very well before, but those are fantastic. I feel 10 times cleaner with the electric brush. One valuable bit of advice I read here on this board is to "let the brush do the work". I am a person that brushes pretty hard and had to be careful because I was still pushing the brush onto my teeth too hard causing bleeding and soreness. I had to learn to take it easy and let that brush do it.
Just last week I went and bought a water pick - again after reading on this board. People said that even after a good brushing that a water pick still finds things and its true! I bought mine at "Best Buy" but they have them at most drug stores. Not sure where you live. I saw them range from $35 to $200. I got mine for about $56. I got the one that has about 6 attachments and 10 speeds. You can store the extra attachments in the lid over the water chamber. I knew the first time I used it that it was worth every cent!! I love it. My mouth and teeth feel SUPER clean and it feels so good on your gums! Just make sure to start on a low setting and work your way up to a harder one or it will hurt. But man....it'll propel some stuff out of those hard places to reach!
I figure I've invested a lot of money into my braces so it is well worth my time and money to invest little more into cleaning/caring.
We are all going to look FABULOUS in the end!!

[Catpotat]

Sensodyne manual toothbrushes are the freakin' bomb. It literally feels like a massage in your mouth and I've bought one for every single family member in my house. Super gentle if you have sensitive teeth and gums, which is pretty much all the time if you have braces

[Cyndi2016]

I love my water pic and electric toothbrush it has helped so much since I got my braces last week.

[ukcruiser2]

Old bird,you are a spring chicken. I had my brace fitted 12 weeks ago 2 days after my 59th birthday. I was lucky my ortho gave me my waterpik as part of my package including interdental brushes,wax and 2 small tooth brushes. I had a thicker wire fitted around 3 weeks ago.You will find it does get easier as time goes by.

[buttafly]

Hi Oldbird, I'm a fellow 'oldie' in braces (32) . I purchased a water pik when I first got my braces and it has been a lifesaver I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Saves me time and I get a better clean than just brush & floss alone. I've found my adjustments haven't been too painful, usually just a bit tender for one or two days max. However recently my ortho added a powerchain to my top teeth and I've had to go back to soft foods, feels nearly as bad as when I first got my braces! Good luck with the cleaning hopefully your ortho will notice an improvement at your next appoint.





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[wantstraightsmile]

I've brought a waterpik from Superdrug here in UK to help floss when I get my braces on in a few weeks. Before when I had Invisalign I was recommended to use an electrical toothbrush so I use an oral B and just used normal dental floss. I haven't got my braces on yet but tried the waterpik and it's amazing!! Would highly recommended and can see it being useful to help clean brackets!