Tartar plaque around brackets

[assertives]

I caved today and got interdental brushes to scrub around each bracket... I think there’s a white line forming behind the wire on two lower incisors where I wasn’t quite brushing with my toothbrush or blasting with waterpik. I also grabbed the purple zero alcohol Listerine for more fluoride!

What else can I do??? I didn’t get white spots from braces as a teen, but I also was way less intense on hygiene... I do t want to end up with gross teeth after $7k and 16 months!

Also continue to visit your dentist for quarterly cleaning sessions if you haven't already.

[Meowmeowbeans2]

I’m scheduled for a 4 month cleaning cycle for now!

Also had to share - tartar is now considered useful for archaeology! http://on.theatln.tc/lB3VDFX

[Meowmeowbeans2]

Since this thread is relevant, I thought I'd add my question here!

When/how do you use the interdental brushes in your cleaning routine? Once I noticed the white line under the wire, I've been waterpiking, brushing, scrubbing around all the brackets with the interdental brush using the toothpaste already on my teeth, spitting, flossing, and mouthwashing.

Should I do the interdental before brushing instead? Add toothpaste directly to it?

I haven't noticed any new white spots, but they also haven't gone away on those front lowers. I figure that the toothbrush bristles can't reach that area well since the teeth are small and brackets closest together there.

Thanks for your thoughts/experiences!

[Teslathecat]

@Meowmeowbeans2 : Once you see those white lines it might be too late to scrub with just the interdental brush. You could buy a dental scaler kit and carefully remove the plaque built up.