Help! I can't keep my teeth clean!!!

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#1 Post by **dugsmom** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:39 am

I've been braced for 8 days and have been brushing like crazy (after every meal, snack, and whenever I get the urge). Yesterday I noticed some plaque buildup on my bottom teeth so I scraped it off with this little scaper thing I have. When I looked in the mirror this morning, the plaque was there again. I scraped and brushed and it's still there. I was only able to take bits of it off...what can I do to keep my teeth clean???? Right now I'm only using a regular toothbrush and flossing. I thought that would be enough but it's obviously not. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Jessica

#2 Post by **bracednconfused** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:47 am

hey dugsmom,

try going with a Waterpik. its pretty much a flosser that shoots water between your teeth. many have raved about it and im looking for one myself. you should be able to find it cvs, rite aid etc. or go www.waterpik.com it'll tell you more places to find one. good luck!

#3 Post by **Bekah** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:58 am

What you describe might not be plaque! I have discoloration at the gum line that literally looks like plaque but it isn't. The dentist told me that it was the result of decalcification.

Have faith! BTW Waterpiks are wonderful! Well worth the money that was spent on it!

#4 Post by **dugsmom** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:31 am

I am definitely going to get a waterpik. I have been putting it off because they are pricey but I'm gonna have to get one soon or else my teeth are going to be full of junk (even if I do brush within 5 minutes of eating)!
I don't think it's decalcification...actually along the gumline it is tarter because I can scrape a lot of it off with my little scaper but a lot of it stays behind. Then above the tarter is where the plaque is...and in my gaps too. I think it's building up because my toothbrush doesn't reach too well in there...It's only in that spot (bottom 4 front teeth).

The one thing I've been afraid of is decalcification!! I saw my dentist about 3 weeks ago and he said I had really healthy teeth. He didn't mention decalcification. Same thing with the ortho...he just said not to eat too many sweets because that could cause decalcification so I haven't been eating too much junk food...
Do you all think it would be worth it to invest in one of those electric toothbrushes??? I heard the Hydrabrush is suppose to be really good and the replacement brushes are really cheap...I just haven't had the heart to spend the money...

Jessica

#5 Post by **jennielee81** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:38 am

Could it be excess glue that you are scraping off?

I would suggest using Plax oral rinse to help you with this problem if it is plaque.

Did you have a plaque problem pre braces? If you are cleaning as well as you say, and I have every reason to believe you, you shouldn't be producing that much plaque that quickly.

Let us know what you find out!!!

#6 Post by **Spidey** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:06 am

This may be a silly question, but are you using the interdental brush? the little tree-shaped one with bristles... it gets at all the good stuff.

Also, there is a possibility, maybe your teeth are shifting, so you can now see the treats under your gumline? At about 3 months in, I nearly had a heart attack because there was a solid chunk on the back of my tooth.. felt like a rock stuck to the enamel. Turns out it was a tartar rock that had been hiding between two teeth my whole life. Funny, all of my routine cleanings always at some point had a hygenist comment that she just couldn't get in between those two teeth. NOW i understand why!!

Have faith, just keep cleaning away!

#7 Post by **bracednconfused** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:57 am

well here is some hillarious irony --

today when i was brushing my teeth, i noticed some plaque-ish buildup on MY teeth!!!

I notice however this is in the back of my teeth, not the front, and specifically on the bottom. i put a mirror to the back top of my front teeth and noticed there was some MAJOR discoloration there! ewww!

i've been brushing/power flossing like mad since...

#8 Post by **dugsmom** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:50 pm

Jennielee81, I just bought Plax and used it right after dinner. I hope it helps! I actually did have a problem with plaque but only on the two front bottom teeth. No matter how much I brushed them I'd get build up (tarter). My dentist said some people build up plaque really fast and I happen to be one of them so I started getting cleanings every 3-4 months plus I brush and floss all the time. That seemed to work and I've been able to keep the build up under control for 2 years...until now. I moved and wasn't able to get my teeth cleaned for a while (6 months)...I found a new dentist and I hate to say this but the hygenist isn't good at all...it could be because she's ancient! she left crap all over my son's teeth and the cleaning HURT like hell. Anyway I think she just left some tarter behind and I am just now noticing (I just had my cleaning a few weeks ago) now that my teeth seemed to have moved a bit.

Do you all think it would be rude of me to request a different Hygenist when I schedule my next cleaning??? She was so friendly but did an awful job!

Spidey, actually that isn't a silly question. I was given one of those little brushes but didn't know what the heck it was...the assistant gave it to me right before I got braced (and told me was it was used for) but I was as nervous as heck and don't remember what she said. Now I know...thanks! I used it last night!

Bracenconfused, ohhhhh nooo! Maybe those teeth are stained! Ohhhh now I have this urge to go grab a mirror and take a look at the back of my front teeth...

Jessica

#9 Post by **cersepn** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:40 pm

I've bought a quickbreeze. You can get it off www.oralbreeze.com
It's WONDERFUL. No hassle of filling up water tanks or worry about battery dying on you after 3-6 months of use..
Really nifty invention
Works wonders for washing out all the gunk from your mouth after that peanut butter sandwich

#10 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:29 am

Weird!!! No matter how much I brush and which toothbrush I use, my bottom 4 teeth just seem to build up tartar in just hours!!!!! I thought maybe it was from being a mouth breather. My dentist has not told me to come in more often than every 6 months for cleanings and has commented on my teeth being pretty clean. My ortho was the one who brought up the build up on my lowers. I am paying extra attention to the those rascals and hopefully I'll regain my sanity from my paranoia of my lowers getting all tartar-ed over!

#11 Post by **purpleteeth** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:54 am

I think for me I have learned that keeping my teeth clean has taken on a whole new meaning, because with braces - they only seem to get so clean!

Try using the little proxyl brush to clean between the brackets and they have travel sizes of this too. You can put toothpaste on it and brush away!!

I get build up stuff all the time and I have found that using petrolium based lip balm tends to add to this.

In terms of plaque, brushing like the ortho showed you and using mouth wash that helps with the plaque might be adviseable. Normal flossing will help too, especially when your teeth are moving around a ton! I own a waterpick and I find I just FEEL BETTER after using it... which makes a big difference.

#12 Post by **dirtybyrd** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:59 am

When I got braced this week my ortho gave me a Oral B Sonic Complete. This thing is the ^#*&. I love it. Cleanest my mouth has ever felt. I am also thinking about getting a water pik. I see them at Wal-Mart every time I am there but just have never spent the money on one. Maybe here soon.

#13 Post by **jennielee81** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:51 am

I would definately ask for a different hygenist next time you go for a cleaning.

You don't need to say why, they probably already know.

#14 Post by **Bekah** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:53 pm

You pay them so you have every right to ask for a different hygenist! I have avoided the dentist for years because of them hurting me and just recently found a dentist's office that specializes in patients with "anxiety"

I wish that I had said something years ago to all those people who were hurting me!

If she did a bad job just politely ask for a different one when you call for the appointment.

#15 Post by **rmogen** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:03 pm

definitely get an electric. I use hge ORal B as well, and it's great. I brush as often as you, and it seems to work.