I tried a water flosser after my kid got braces, thinking it’d be a game-changer for those impossible gaps. It definitely blasted out food bits, but honestly, some plaque just wouldn’t budge unless we used regular floss too. Maybe it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t call it a total replacement—especially for tight spots. Kind of wish there was a gadget that actually made flossing fun...
DEALING WITH THOSE SNEAKY IN-BETWEEN TOOTH CAVITIES
- Been there with the water flosser. My oldest had braces for almost three years, and I was convinced that thing would solve all our problems. It’s great for blasting out the big stuff, but those sticky spots? Nope, still needed regular floss (and sometimes those little interdental brushes).
- Honestly, even as an adult, I find water flossers a bit... splashy? I end up with half the bathroom counter wet, but hey, at least it feels like I’m doing something good for my teeth.
- One thing that helped us: waxed floss. Slides between tight spots way easier, especially when you’re dealing with wires and brackets everywhere. My kid actually preferred the pre-threaded flossers—less fiddling.
- I do think water flossers are better than nothing, especially for folks who just won’t floss otherwise. But yeah, nothing beats the old-fashioned string for scraping off stubborn plaque. I wish there was a gadget that made it fun too—maybe if someone combined TikTok with flossing, my kids would be all over it.
- For me, the real “game changer” was switching up the routine. We started doing a quick floss after dinner rather than waiting till bedtime when everyone’s tired and grumpy. Not perfect, but fewer battles.
- Also, I totally get the frustration about those in-between cavities. My dentist said they’re sneaky because you don’t always feel them until they’re pretty deep. We caught one early just because of a routine checkup.
- If you ever figure out how to make flossing fun, let me know. Until then, I guess it’s just a battle of wills and a lot of reminders... and maybe the occasional bribe with sugar-free gum.
I get where you're coming from about water flossers being "better than nothing," but honestly, I think they’re underrated for folks with dexterity issues or braces.
I used to swear by string floss, but after my hand surgery, it just wasn’t working anymore—water flosser was a lifesaver. My hygienist actually said if you use it *properly* and take your time, it can get surprisingly close to the results of string floss, especially when paired with interdental brushes. Not for everyone, but for some, it’s a total game changer.“But yeah, nothing beats the old-fashioned string for scraping off stubborn plaque.”
I totally get what you mean about water flossers being underrated, especially after something like hand surgery. I was super skeptical at first, but honestly, the combo of water flosser and those tiny interdental brushes has helped me a ton with those hard-to-reach spots. Like you said,
—I found that to be true for me too. I still miss regular floss sometimes, but my gums are actually happier now. Guess it’s all about finding what works when things change.“if you use it *properly* and take your time, it can get surprisingly close to the results of string floss”
Man, I was all about the string floss for years—felt like nothing else could get in there. But after getting a couple of those sneaky in-between cavities (ugh), my dentist basically guilt-tripped me into trying a water flosser. Didn’t expect much, but I gotta admit, it’s actually kinda fun? Not perfect, but way less hassle when my hands are cramping up from typing all day. Still feels weird not using the old-school floss, though.
