Flossing: Impossible

[Geostrophic]

Okay...maybe that's an exaggeration.

Finally got my bottom braces on yesterday. Things are tight and I was only able to get floss between two of my bottom teeth after much sweating and swearing along the whole arch.

I use the "tape" style floss that Oral-B has. Thinking I may give the old "string" style a go tonight since it's so thin. Not looking forward to picking shreds of floss from my braces though.
I had to go to work eventually this morning, so I just gave up and waterpiked 'em.

Anyone else experience this?

[scopus]

if ur having trouble getting it under the wire, get a floss threader or they have floss with built in threaders like oral b superfloss(kinna thick and shreds) or glide threader floss(heard is better), but even with those for me too much time n work to do evertday...so just ordered a waterpik

[lmk]

Oh yeah, definitely was SO difficult to floss!! I found these orthodontic picks called "Plackers Orthopick Flossers" at walmart. They work great! ! Plus I use the waterpik everyday too.

[EWUgal15]

As things start to move, it will get easier to floss. Just be patient.

[Geostrophic]

if ur having trouble getting it under the wire, get a floss threader or they have floss with built in threaders like oral b superfloss(kinna thick and shreds) or glide threader floss(heard is better), but even with those for me too much time n work to do evertday...so just ordered a waterpik

Yeah. Definitely been using floss threaders. ...it's just that things are so tight right now, I can't even get floss between my teeth after the floss has been threaded :-\

Oh yeah, definitely was SO difficult to floss!! I found these orthodontic picks called "Plackers Orthopick Flossers" at walmart. They work great! ! Plus I use the waterpik everyday too.

I think I'll take a look at the Plackers regardless. Thanks! My routine is getting crazy long now that the bottoms are on, and my 5yo is growing impatient with me come bedtime. Maybe cutting out the threading will save a little time. I am pretty paranoid about popping a bracket off with those things though...

Thanks, everyone!

[SmileSooner]

The Waterpik is awesome for flossing with braces. It's a bit messy with water coming out of your mouth so you do it over the sink, but it is a wonderful way to clean around your braces and gums.

No one likes to floss - well maybe a few people. I know I don't. I like the clean, but not actually doing it. I love my Waterpik - without braces.

I have not done the research, but I understand that the Waterpik is pretty close to being as effective as flossing and perhaps more if you actually use it compared to the hassles of flossing leading you to skip that.

But if your dentist or orthodontist has specific concerns regarding this, go by their advice and guidance.

:) Disclaimer - I'm an orthodontist, but I'm not YOUR orthodontist - if you're my patient we should be talking in person to figure stuff out. I'm giving people the best advice I can based on the information I'm given in posts. I have over twenty five years of experience - two children of my own - and treated my son with braces. My daughter thinks her smile is gorgeous enough! There are many, many wonderful orthodontists out there, doing excellent work. And we all do things somewhat differently based on our education and experiences. I want to support everyone in any of my posts - dentists, orthodontists, patients and parents. I'm here to learn and teach to the best of my abilities. The situation that I am commenting on may NOT include details that would change my opinion and post. So I can only give you my opinion - and bottom line? Always speak to your orthodontist sincerely about questions you might have. Cheers!

[Geostrophic]

Disclaimer - I'm an orthodontist, but I'm not YOUR orthodontist - if you're my patient we should be talking in person to figure stuff out.

I got a kick out of your disclaimer.
You could become all-too-popular as an orthodontist on this forum.

Thanks for the advice! I'm pretty set on getting flossing to work one way or the other. In the meantime, I'm definitely Waterpik-ing my whole mouth as well.

[kip]

I'm having real trouble myself flossing, attempted for the first time last night (second night in braces) but couldn't get the floss anywhere near most of my teeth because my archwire is practically ontop of my gum line!

Would my teeth be OK for a week or so without flossing if I'm brushing 5-6 times a day and mouthwashing? I have to confess, I was never big on flossing prior to my braces, they were only picked at once/twice a week. I'm hoping I'll feel a bit more confident in a few days with it and can give it more of an aggressive go

[djspeece]

I quickly abandoned flossing when I got my braces and went with an interdental ("Christmas tree") brush dipped in Listerine, along with a waterpik. Please see my post in the "Confess your orthodontic sins" thread for more details .
I am not certain this would work for everyone, because I think I may have favorable oral chemistry that prevents cavities (based on comments from a dentist and endodontist in consultation) and as Dr. SmileSooner stated, this is something to discuss with your orthodontist. I flirted briefly with a device called a "Floss Fish" which supposedly makes it easier to thread floss, but I lost my patience quickly. I am not a good example, in all likelihood but I do wish you the best of luck!

[Geostrophic]

I'm having real trouble myself flossing, attempted for the first time last night (second night in braces) but couldn't get the floss anywhere near most of my teeth because my archwire is practically ontop of my gum line!

I wonder if, because your archwire is so low, that flossers like the spam spam spam or similar ones for braces might be even better for you than most.

I flirted briefly with a device called a "Floss Fish" which supposedly makes it easier to thread floss, but I lost my patience quickly. I am not a good example, in all likelihood but I do wish you the best of luck!

Looks similar to that spam spam spam thing too. I'm just hoping my teeth move around a bit soon.

[Geostrophic]

I wonder if, because your archwire is so low, that flossers like the spam spam spam or similar ones for braces might be even better for you than most.

Ha! Whoops. Guess I got tagged for spam.

[sirwired]

I used the WaterPik, and also used Glide Threader Floss. (It's glide floss in a little packet with one end kind of "plasticized" for stiffness.)

I'm not surprised the superfloss didn't work; that stuff doesn't seem to me to be real compatible with braces.

[Geostrophic]

I used the WaterPik, and also used Glide Threader Floss. (It's glide floss in a little packet with one end kind of "plasticized" for stiffness.)

I'd kinda poo-pooed that initially, but tried it again this weekend and it's quite a time-saver.
Hasn't helped me get between the teeth on the bottom - but it's saved a lot of time I'd been spending threading on the tops! Thanks!

[kip]

I've managed to get some very small interdental brushes in there at the gum line but I still can't understand how to floss all the way down my teeth! Think it's time for a youtube video...

[teeebeee]

I really couldn't get on with flossing with the braces on but the Waterpik did a fine job for me, according to my dentist!

T xx