Caring for braces

[laurene]

Hi,

I just got my upper braces put on a couple of days ago. I have 6 Mystiques and the rest metal Innovations. I get my lowers put on in a few months.

I have been reading through this forum and I am learning things my ortho never mentioned! I was told about how to brush, how to floss and what foods to avoid. I was not told about fluoride rinses or any type of rinse, interdent brushes (?), waterpiks, electric toothbrushes, etc. I haven't even heard of some of this stuff, especially the different type of 'brushes' for braces! I have been just using a manual toothbrush the last couple of days (my teeth are quite sensitive to use my sonicare), and trying to learn how to floss with the floss threader. I feel like I should be doing a lot more than this.

Can anyone tell me the different type of brushes, what they look like, what they are for, how to use them, the different type of rinses, when to use and how often? Can anyone tell me their daily/weekly routine? I want to make sure I am cleaning properly while in braces and doing what I am suppose to be doing.

Thanks

[nessajsmith]

I'm on day 4 of uppers and downers (vainity prevailed and I went for clear uppers!) but I was told not to use anything with peroxide or other whitening stuff because my teeth will be patchy when the braces come off so I had to give up my whitening toothpastes and rinses, am I being duped can I still use my whitening stuff? I gave up smoking 10 months ago and so to reward myself I decided to get braces but my ultimate goal is WHITE straight teeth, a beautiful smile. Think I'll be asking my ortho when I see him in a couple of weeks. (Being so highly co ordinated I have already lost one of my turbo thingys luckily got it before I ate it!) Just wondering if anyone else was told to lay off the whitening stuff?

[*Denise*]

Thanks so much for that video Karen.

[Dovechild20]

*prints out Karen's daily routine*

[Whitters]

*prints out Karen's daily routine*

LOL..I took note of Karen's routine too! Now everyday I'm trying to adhere to it, especially as I've been slacking these days. Thanks Karen for sharing that with us - truly an inspiration for me to come up with my own routine (and stick with it)!

[Bellita]

Karen, what is the peroxide for? (that you dip your brush in)

[SDFD TSchott]

Congrats Karen you have a few members following your routine... lol I hate to admit to it but when I found out your routine I sorta stuck to what you have been doing and its just an every day occurance for me now!

~Tim~

[markuhde]

Depends on your ortho. It was not suggested I buy any "for braces" gadgets but to keep using normal toothbrush and floss. I have bought interdental brushes however because they're the only way I can find to brush under the ligatures thoroughly. With a normal brush that is HARD and easy to miss bits.

Normal floss however, they are right. I see no reason to buy special floss. It's easy to slip normal floss under the wire. If you're having a hard time at the very back (I have a few times), fold one end over and roll it in your fingers to make it double stiffness... just like self-threading floss for a lot less!

[Niki]

KK thanks for posting the video link and your routine!