I totally get what you mean about the threaders. I tried those reusable picks once and honestly, I felt like I was torturing myself—my gums were sore for days. But then again, the regular floss with a threader isn’t exactly a walk in the park either. Does anyone else worry that all this poking around is actually making things worse? I keep stressing that I’m going to mess up and end up with more cavities. Is it really possible to overdo it, or am I just being paranoid?
I used to think the same thing—like, if I flossed too hard or too often, I’d just make my gums angry and maybe even cause more trouble. But my dentist actually told me it’s less about *how much* you floss and more about *how* you do it. I was going at it like I was scrubbing grout, which just left me sore and frustrated. Once I learned to be gentle (and honestly, switched to waxed floss), things got way better. Haven’t had a cavity in years, but I still get paranoid sometimes... Guess old habits die hard.
I get what you mean, but honestly, I’m not convinced flossing alone is enough, especially with braces. Even with gentle technique, I still ended up with a sneaky cavity between two molars. Those little brushes (interdental ones) made a bigger difference for me than floss ever did.
Those little brushes (interdental ones) made a bigger difference for me than floss ever did.
Did you find the interdental brushes tricky to use at first? My kid’s orthodontist suggested them, but I worry she’ll poke her gums or miss spots. Is it normal to feel like you’re not doing it right? I’m always second-guessing if we’re cleaning enough, especially with all that metal in there...
Interdental brushes are basically tiny medieval torture devices the first week, at least in my hands. I kept thinking I was either missing half the gunk or about to stab straight through my gums. My orthodontist said it’s totally normal to feel awkward at first, especially with braces—there’s just so much metal! It gets easier, though. My kid still makes faces when I help, but we both got less clumsy with practice. If she pokes herself a bit, it’s not the end of the world... just maybe keep tissues handy for the first few tries.