Dealing with those sneaky in-between tooth cavities

String floss is still my go-to, even though it can be a pain. I tried those silicone picks too, but they just didn’t get that deep-clean feeling for me either. Funny thing - I actually started using the water flosser in the shower to avoid the whole bathroom mess, but it’s not exactly convenient if you’re in a hurry. Anyone else have weird habits or tricks for making flossing less of a chore? Sometimes I wish there was a magic fix for those tight spots...

I totally get what you mean about the water flosser mess - mine sprays everywhere unless I’m super careful. For those tight spots, I’ve actually had luck with waxed floss that’s a bit thinner than the usual stuff. It slides in way easier and doesn’t shred as much. Sometimes I’ll use a little dental mirror to check if I got everything, but honestly, it feels a bit over the top... Still, better than missing something and ending up with another cavity.

- Water flossers are basically the “splash zone” of dental care - no shame in needing a towel nearby.
- I’m with you on the thin waxed floss. I’ve tried the tape-style stuff too, but it always gets stuck for me…
- Dental mirrors: I have one, but honestly, I use it more to check for spinach than plaque.
- If you’re worried about missing spots, those little rubber-tipped gum things (like Soft-Picks) work wonders between tight teeth.
- Cavities between teeth are sneaky, but hey, at least we’re not alone in the battle.

Water flossers are basically the “splash zone” of dental care - no shame in needing a towel nearby.

The splash zone is real - I swear my bathroom mirror gets a rinse every night. I’m with you on the tape floss, though. It always shreds or gets stuck between my back molars, and then I’m doing this weird floss-rescue operation with tweezers. Anyone else find those rubber-tipped gum things kind of ticklish at first? They do get into tight spots, but I still feel like I miss something sometimes. Cavities between teeth are the worst because you never see them coming... until that cold drink hits just right and you’re suddenly regretting every skipped floss session.

I totally relate to the tape floss drama - mine always frays and then I’m stuck with half a strand dangling between my teeth. I tried those rubber gum things too, but honestly, they just made me laugh at first. Still not sure I’m getting every spot, but at least my gums aren’t bleeding like with the old-school string. Those surprise cavities are the worst... nothing like an ice-cold drink to remind you you’re overdue for a cleaning.

Dealing with those sneaky in-between tooth cavities

- Had the same issue with tape floss shredding - used to drive me nuts mid-floss when it’d snap and I’d be left fishing bits out. Switched to unwaxed string, but that just made my gums sore for days.
- Gave those rubber gum picks a shot too. At first, they felt like little toys, but after a couple weeks I noticed way less bleeding. Still not convinced I’m getting all the gunk out, though. Some spots are just stubborn.
- My dentist showed me how to use those tiny interdental brushes. Honestly, I thought they were overkill until I actually tried them. Turns out, they can reach places regular floss misses, especially if you’ve got some crowding.
- As for the surprise cavity pain... totally get it. The worst is biting into something cold and suddenly realizing you’ve got a problem brewing. Happened to me last year - turns out, even with decent brushing and flossing, those tight spots can still hide trouble.
- If you haven’t already, maybe try rotating between different cleaning tools? I found mixing things up helps more than just sticking with one method. And yeah, nothing replaces a good cleaning at the dentist, even if it’s a pain to schedule.

It’s definitely trial and error finding what works for your teeth.

Definitely hear you on the tape floss snapping - that’s one of those small annoyances that can really mess up your routine. I tried switching to those expanding spongy flosses, but honestly, half the time they just got stuck between my crowded teeth. Ended up feeling like I was wrestling with my own mouth.

Interdental brushes felt a little overkill to me at first too, but now I keep a couple sizes handy (my back molars need the bigger ones, the front barely fit anything). Once you figure out which ones work for each space, it does get easier… still kinda tedious though. I’ll admit, I sometimes skip days and then regret it when my gums start complaining.

Mixing up tools is solid advice. For me, using rubber picks at night and regular floss in the morning seems to hit most spots without making my gums sore. And yeah, even with all that, sometimes those sneaky cavities still show up - guess that’s just life with tight teeth. At least catching them early means less drama at the dentist.

You’re definitely not alone in this. It’s a pain figuring out what works, but sounds like you’re already doing way more than most people even try.

Crowded teeth really do make everything more complicated, don’t they? I’ve had braces for a while now, and it’s wild how much more stuff gets trapped in between. I’ve tried those rubber picks too, but sometimes they just bend or break on me - frustrating, but better than nothing. Honestly, I’m still figuring out the right combo of tools myself. Have you noticed if your gums got less sensitive over time with all the switching between floss and brushes? For me, it was a rough adjustment at first, but eventually things calmed down. Just curious if that’s common or if I just got lucky.

I totally relate to the gum sensitivity thing. When I first got my braces, just brushing felt like torture - my gums would bleed if I even looked at them wrong. I bounced between floss threaders, those little brushes, and the rubber picks you mentioned (snapped a few of those too). Over time, my gums did toughen up, but only after a couple months of feeling raw. It’s wild how the mouth adapts... but yeah, it was a rough ride at first. Guess it’s not just you.

That’s exactly how it started for me - my gums were ridiculously sensitive, like even the softest toothbrush felt like sandpaper. I kept worrying I was doing something wrong, especially when they’d bleed. The rubber tip things were a disaster for me too (snapped two right out of the gate). It took ages before my mouth stopped feeling raw. Weirdly, I found saltwater rinses after brushing helped a bit with the soreness? Still paranoid about missing spots and getting those sneaky between-the-teeth cavities, though. It’s like a whole new level of dental anxiety...

I totally get the paranoia about missing spots - sometimes I’ll floss and still feel like there’s something lurking between my teeth. My dentist suggested those little interdental brushes, but honestly, they just made my gums even angrier at first. Did you notice if the saltwater rinses actually sped up healing, or was it more of a temporary relief thing? I’ve been hesitant to try anything new since my gums seem to overreact to just about everything...

My dentist suggested those little interdental brushes, but honestly, they just made my gums even angrier at first.

Funny you mention that - I had the opposite experience. At first, my gums bled like crazy, but after a couple weeks, they actually calmed down. Saltwater rinses felt soothing for me, but honestly, I’m not convinced they did much for healing. Mostly just made my mouth feel cleaner for a bit. Maybe it’s one of those things that’s super individual?

Saltwater rinses felt soothing for me, but honestly, I’m not convinced they did much for healing.

Same here - saltwater just made my mouth feel less gross, but I doubt it actually helped my gums recover faster. I’m curious, did you try switching brush sizes? I found the tiny ones were way less harsh on my gums than the bigger ones.

I totally relate to the saltwater thing -

“saltwater just made my mouth feel less gross, but I doubt it actually helped my gums recover faster.”

About toothbrush sizes, I got so anxious about hurting my child’s gums that we ended up trying three different ones. The tiny heads were definitely gentler, but I kept worrying if they were cleaning well enough between those tight teeth. It felt like a tradeoff - less irritation, but maybe not as thorough? Did anyone else end up switching back and forth between sizes, or is that just my overthinking?

And what about flossing - did you notice your kids’ gums getting more sensitive with those little flossers? I’m always so nervous about making things worse even though I know we have to keep those spots clean...

We did the toothbrush shuffle too. I’d start with the smallest one for a few days after anything sensitive, then switch back to a regular kids’ brush once things calmed down. Never felt like the tiny ones got everything, but at least they didn’t make things worse. With flossers, my kid’s gums bled a bit at first - dentist said that’s actually normal until the gums get used to it. I just tried to go super gentle and stopped if it looked too irritated. Still feels like a guessing game most nights...

Toothbrush shuffle - yep, that’s the dance of my evenings too. My kid acts like I’m coming at him with a medieval torture device every time I pull out the flossers. The bleeding freaked me out at first, but our dentist said the same thing about gums toughening up. Sometimes I think I’m just moving plaque around for fun, honestly. But hey, if you’re trying and your kid’s not screaming, I call that a win.

Haha, you nailed it with the “medieval torture device” bit - my kid gives me that same look, like I’m about to perform open-heart surgery with a flosser. I’ve wondered too if I’m actually making a difference or just going through the motions because the dentist says so. But hey, if you’re not getting full-on meltdowns, I’d call that a solid win. Ever tried any of those electric kids’ toothbrushes? I swear the lights and sounds distract my son just long enough for a halfway decent job.

Man, I feel you on the “is this even helping?” thing. Some nights I’m convinced my daughter’s teeth are cleaner just from the tantrum-induced spit than anything I actually do with the floss. We tried one of those electric brushes with a unicorn on it - she mostly just likes the song it plays, but hey, at least she’s not running away. Have you had any luck with those floss picks with handles? I keep wondering if they’re actually better or just another thing to step on barefoot in the dark...

Those floss picks with handles are a double-edged sword - on one hand, my kid will actually let me near her mouth with them, which feels like a miracle. On the other, I’ve definitely had the pleasure of stepping on a few at 2am. I do think they’re easier for little hands, though. Honestly, less wrestling and more actual flossing, even if half the time she’s just chewing on it. I guess it’s progress?

Honestly, less wrestling and more actual flossing, even if half the time she’s just chewing on it. I guess it’s progress?

Definitely counts as progress in my book. I’ve seen so many parents struggle just to get a toothbrush near their kid’s mouth, let alone floss. Floss picks are a lifesaver for dexterity issues - little hands just can’t manage traditional floss yet. And yeah, stepping on one is its own special kind of pain... I started keeping a little cup in the bathroom for used picks, which reduced my midnight booby traps by like 90%. Chewing is normal at this age - honestly, it helps them get used to the texture. Better than nothing, right?