Let's get real -- How important is flossing with braces?

[Mommag3bous]

[quote=Speck post_id=505585 time=1542591613 user_id=32114]
You guys/gals have it good! With Invisalign I floss and brush four to five times/day. Ugh. I still wonder if traditional braces might've been a better choice?

In any event, I suspect that flossing is fundamentally important in providing the best likelihood for keeping teeth and gums in healthy condition.
[/quote]

I just got my braces on 2 days and spent a few months deciding between braces and Invisalign. This is one of the reason I choose braces over Invisalign, even though my OCD has kicked in and I feel I'll brushing and flossing all the time to assure the best care. For me it came down to Invisalign was going to be a 2 1/2 yr process with tooth extraction while braces I was told we'd just do some shaving and it'd be 12 months. As a working mom of 3 very active kids Invisalign scared me. I just know that at some point we'd be on the go eating and it could be hours before I'd be able to stop and brush/floss/etc. to put them back on. I also didn't like the fact that anytime I eat or drink other than water they'd have to come out. With braces I can just eat whenever I want and just do a quick clean. I did go with clear ceramic on top and bottom and honestly was amazed at how unnoticable they are. I had to walk up to the mirror at the office to see them because I couldn't even spot them from a distance at all.

[Heartofdarkness]

Don't you guys use this thingy? http://familytreeortho.com/wp-content/u ... 08/p-1.jpg It doesn't take longer than flossing without braces. I'm extremely lazy about my teeth right now but I try to floss atleast every other day.

[assertives]

Don't you guys use this thingy? http://familytreeortho.com/wp-content/u ... 08/p-1.jpg It doesn't take longer than flossing without braces. I'm extremely lazy about my teeth right now but I try to floss atleast every other day.

I tried this, but didn't like that you have to either keep using the same piece of floss to clean between all the teeth or use over 20 individual pcs to keep things hygienic -- which is just a waste and too much work for me.

[Gia]

The orthodontist's assistant recommended them and I bought them. They're OK, but I bent a wire a couple of times trying to get it under them and think it might have contributed to loosening the brackets on my crowns. I'm afraid to use them now, though they were so much easier than threading the floss through.

[Heartofdarkness]

Don't you guys use this thingy? http://familytreeortho.com/wp-content/u ... 08/p-1.jpg It doesn't take longer than flossing without braces. I'm extremely lazy about my teeth right now but I try to floss atleast every other day.

I tried this, but didn't like that you have to either keep using the same piece of floss to clean between all the teeth or use over 20 individual pcs to keep things hygienic -- which is just a waste and too much work for me.

Heh, I just rinse it in between.

[Meowmeowbeans2]

Hi all! I get braces next week, and this thread makes me feel like a waterpik is a must! Any specific models recommended?

Overall I’m trying to prep for next week and have supplies at home. I already bought dental wax! My ortho’s website suggests:
1. Electric toothbrush with ortho head - I have OralB 1000
2. Fluoride toothpaste
3. Fluoride mouthwash - never used one, what’s a good brand?
4. Orthopik floss picks - is this as effective as regular floss?
5. Waterpik - what brand/features should I look for?
6. Potentially getting dental cleanings more often

How much of that do people do? And in what order??
Morning: brush
Evening: brush, floss, waterpik, mouthwash??

I just had a dental cleaning today and they also recommended a dental cleaning every 4 months and in-office fluoride treatments (both aren’t covered by insurance...) while in braces and because I have some 4mm gum pockets. Is that a normal suggestion or are they just in it for the $$?

[cbraces678]

Hi all! I get braces next week, and this thread makes me feel like a waterpik is a must! Any specific models recommended?

Overall I’m trying to prep for next week and have supplies at home. I already bought dental wax! My ortho’s website suggests:
1. Electric toothbrush with ortho head - I have OralB 1000
2. Fluoride toothpaste
3. Fluoride mouthwash - never used one, what’s a good brand?
4. Orthopik floss picks - is this as effective as regular floss?
5. Waterpik - what brand/features should I look for?
6. Potentially getting dental cleanings more often

How much of that do people do? And in what order??
Morning: brush
Evening: brush, floss, waterpik, mouthwash??

I just had a dental cleaning today and they also recommended a dental cleaning every 4 months and in-office fluoride treatments (both aren’t covered by insurance...) while in braces and because I have some 4mm gum pockets. Is that a normal suggestion or are they just in it for the $$?

I have the Aquarius WaterPik... I think it's like the standard normal sized version. I like it a lot and would recommend it. Their customer service is really great as well. The motor started not working right after about a year of use, so I contacted them and they sent me a replacement right away - no questions asked. I use it about 5 times a day now with braces, so I can see why the motor may have went

As for what I do... in the morning I use the WaterPik on a medium setting to clean along gums and teeth, interdental brush, electric toothbrush, then mouthwash. At night WaterPik on medium again, interdental, electric toothbrush, floss, and then mouthwash. During the day for in between meals I use the WaterPik on the lowest setting just to clear food around the brackets and a manual toothbrush to brush. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't survive without the WaterPik. I get my teeth cleaned every 3 months. I floss nightly. I always have, so once I got braces I just kept doing it.

[braceace]

I had my first adjustment yesterday, and I asked them how my hygiene was looking. They said everything looked good! I've been flossing about twice a week, so I'm thinking that's going to be fine. I'll add in more when I eat food more likely to get stuck between teeth.

[Steph30]

I use ortho flossers - dipped in mouth wash in between - Probably only 5 times a week.. my dentist said my teeth and gums are in amazing shape for being in braces and Im almost 2 years in!

It doesnt take long at all.

[Speck]

Why wouldn't one endeavor to floss on a daily basis?

[braceace]

Why wouldn't one endeavor to floss on a daily basis?

Because of several reasons

~Never had floss in the house as a kid, so was never taught the habit.
~Many people have sensory issues that make different aspects of flossing painful and torturous.
~There are no proven studies saying that flossing everyday is necessary, and plenty of people do fine not flossing on a regular basis.
~It's time consuming and (again) painful, especially for people with really tight teeth.
~Small mouths make it hard to use floss anywhere but the front teeth area

And I'm sure others could come up with a host of other reasons. Flossing has it's place, but it's not a priority for most people. I have never regularly flossed, and the only cavities I've ever had were not from not flossing -- they were on the top parts of my back most molars when I was a kid bc my mouth was small, and brushing my back teeth caused me to gag to the point of puking as a kid, so I didn't brush as well as I should of. It honestly still makes me horribly gag, but those cavities were so bad that I just brush through the gagging to prevent those bad of cavities ever happening again.

[Speck]

Interesting article: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/featu ... t-to-floss

[Meowmeowbeans2]

I can’t NOT floss! I can literally feel the difference in my mouth between going to bed having flossed vs. not having flossed. The bacteria has a buffet to feast on between your teeth if if you don’t floss/waterpik - so without flossing my mouth tastes worse and has more plaque built up when I wake up.

Despite my religious flossing habits, I still have some bone loss from gum inflammation. So much of this stuff is genetics - and I have genetically thin gums on the other hand my teeth are rocks and have never had a cavity or sensitivity (knock on wood!).

[cbraces678]

I can’t NOT floss! I can literally feel the difference in my mouth between going to bed having flossed vs. not having flossed. The bacteria has a buffet to feast on between your teeth if if you don’t floss/waterpik - so without flossing my mouth tastes worse and has more plaque built up when I wake up.

Despite my religious flossing habits, I still have some bone loss from gum inflammation. So much of this stuff is genetics - and I have genetically thin gums on the other hand my teeth are rocks and have never had a cavity or sensitivity (knock on wood!).

I agree. I have to floss nightly otherwise I feel like something isn’t right. I also have terrible genetics in this area. I am prone to gum disease despite my best efforts, so I do have some recession already. I just feel icky without flossing! It makes a big difference I think.

[braceace]

I never notice a difference, unless something is stuck. I have a little gum recession on my bottom teeth, but it's not from gum disease. I've never had problems with gum disease. I think it's from the way I clench my teeth together. I tend to push my bottom teeth against my top, and it's those main "pushing/clenching" "bottom teeth that have the recession.