Got braces about 4 months ago, and honestly, I thought the hardest part would be the soreness or maybe getting food stuck in them (gross, I know). But nope, turns out cavities are my new nemesis. I've always been pretty good about brushing and flossing, but at my last checkup, my dentist found two small cavities. She said braces make it way easier for plaque to hide and cause trouble, even if you're careful. Ugh.
I've started using one of those tiny interdental brushes and a fluoride rinse, but I'm still paranoid about getting more cavities. Anyone else dealing with this? Like, is there some secret trick I'm missing or am I just doomed to extra dentist visits until these braces come off?
Ugh, braces and cavities really are like the evil duo nobody warned us about. Sounds like you're already doing a lot right, especially with the interdental brushes—those things saved me when I had braces. One thing that helped me was switching to an electric toothbrush with a small round head; it seemed to get into those sneaky spots better than my manual one. Still got one cavity though, so maybe it's just part of the braces initiation club... Hang in there, it gets easier!
I get the electric toothbrush suggestion, but honestly, I'm not totally convinced it's always better. My dentist actually warned me that if you're not careful, electric brushes can sometimes push plaque deeper around brackets because people tend to press too hard without realizing it. I've stuck with a soft manual brush and just slowed down my brushing routine—like really taking my time tooth by tooth. No cavities yet, but now you've got me worried it's just beginner's luck...
