Hygiene Check!!

[oldfart]

Did you floss yesterday?

(be honest)

I say Yes, but as I just got them they still have the new braces smell and I still think they are cool. Just paranoid about catching a fingernail or the floss on a bracket and pulling it off.

[anarchy45]

So far my regimen has been to rinse good and brush after every meal (because it's so disgusting and bothersome to have stuff stuck between the wires!), brush good before bed, spend 5 minutes with the waterpik to get the leftovers out, swish some mouthwash, slather on some lip balm, and hit the sack. Floss? LoL. I never did (and never really could, because my teeth were so misaligned and tight together), but since I got my first appliance in in January, I've flossed a few times just for the novelty of it... and found that I could actually squeeze it in between my two top front teeth for the first time ever. So I doubt I will ever make a habit of it, but flossing seems to be a good way to judge my progress, especially in the beginning of treatment.

[missblu3]

I floss each night before bed, and during the day if I've had something particularly sticky. I agree about the progress, too - last night I could floss between a couple of teeth that I couldn't even fit the floss under the bracket/wire - much less between the teeth. I feel like a nerd to be so excited about it!

[oktobergoud]

Honestly? I have never flossed in my life.

[Ciara]

Yes! I usually floss every morning and evening - I did before I got braces. In the evening I also use my waterpik and I brush after every meal.

Ciara

[Kipepeo]

Floss each night, waterpik morning and night, brush 3-4 times per day.

[Bikerchick85]

I floss every few days. I rarely flossed before because my teeth were so tight. I think I could make it a habit when I get these aggravating things off my teeth! I use tweezers with my floss instead of threaders. Sooo much faster!

[klobird]

Exactly the same as Kip--floss every night, waterpik every morning and night, brush 3-4 times a day. If I'm at home, I will waterpik and brush after almost everything I eat. I HATE flossing!

[KatrinkaNoir]

Floss at least twice a day, brush about four times a day, fluoride mouthwash at night, and regular mouthwash during the day. These things feels like plaque builders!

[Tobilei]

I flossed every night before I got braces. Now it's such a hassle. I did floss last night, but I tend to floss every 2nd night now (but I'll do it if we've had something that gets really wedged in there like a roast or steak). I do use my interdental brush every night though and do the spaces I can with it.

[prairiehouse]

I floss every night. I brush twice a day, three times sometimes. My brushing frequency depends on if I eat lunch at home or not.


A tip for those that find flossing with braces takes too long. Try watching television while you do it. That way you have something else to focus on and you're really not actually spending any additional time on flossing (if you were going to watch television in the first place).


It goes by very quickly that way.

[Sita]

Yes. Pre-braces I flossed everyday and for the most part I floss every day now. If I don't floss I use the smallest interdental brushes I have to clean along the gumline. If I don't floss regularly my gums will quickly become inflamed.

[SparklyMouth]

nope! I flossed a few times a week pre-braces and TRY to floss every night with the braces. It's a hassle. I HATE the threader, but kinda like the oral-b floss. Last week I tugged too hard pulling floss out of my tight teeth and pulled the wire out of the bracket. NOW I'm paranoid about flossing. Thank heavens for the water pik! I'm a champion brusher though...a zillion times a day it seems. Even "dry brushing" in the car when something feels junky in the spaces.

[jaybea20]

I floss daily-but it does suck. Takes me about 20 minutes-and I think I'm pretty coordinated at it, so I don't see it going any faster.

My teeth are very straight but I have bite issues-so my teeth are very tight. I'm finding it extra painful to floss with my teeth already sore (new to braces since Tuesday).

[teddy13]

[quote="Bikerchick85"]I floss every few days. I rarely flossed before because my teeth were so tight. I think I could make it a habit when I get these aggravating things off my teeth! I use tweezers with my floss instead of threaders. Sooo much faster![/quote]

Oh my gosh! I thought I was the only one! I also use a tweezer to help me floss my back molars since using the plastic floss threader takes forever for me to floss haha.