Flossing is still the biggest game changer though... even if it takes forever with all that hardware.
I’ve been dealing with retainers on and off for decades (lucky me), and I’d say you’re spot on about flossing. Mouthwash feels nice in the moment, but it’s like spraying air freshener in a musty room—just masks things for a bit. Once I got more consistent with flossing, especially around those tricky wire spots, morning breath improved a lot. I use those little floss threaders—kind of a pain, but better than nothing.
Tongue scrapers are underrated too. My hygienist pushed me to try one last year, and honestly, it made more difference than mouthwash ever did. Dairy always seems to linger, so I get what you mean there.
If your kid’s struggling with the hardware, maybe try a water flosser? It’s not perfect, but it gets the gunk out from under wires pretty well. Still takes some patience, but less fiddly than threading floss through every bracket.
- I get where you're coming from on flossing, but I actually think mouthwash deserves a little more credit.
- For me, using a good antibacterial rinse (like the ones with cetylpyridinium chloride or essential oils) actually made a difference with morning breath—especially on days when I'm rushing and can't floss as well as I should.
- Flossing is definitely the gold standard for getting stuff out from between teeth, but if you’re dealing with braces or permanent retainers, mouthwash can at least help kill some of the bacteria that cause odor.
- Not saying it replaces flossing, but sometimes tech helps—my smart toothbrush has a built-in timer and pressure sensor, which keeps me honest about brushing time.
- Water flossers are cool, but they can get messy. I’ve sprayed the mirror more than once...
- Tongue scrapers are underrated, totally agree there.
- For anyone who hates the taste of regular mouthwash, there are alcohol-free ones now that don’t burn your mouth off.
I guess for me, it’s not either/or—it’s more like stacking up small wins. If you can’t floss every single night, mouthwash at least keeps things in check until you can.