sometimes I feel like I’m just moving food from one bracket to another
Literally me after every meal. I swear, bagels and even crusty bread are like edible glue with braces. I’ve started cutting everything into bite-sized bits, but then it takes forever to eat. Honestly, I think water flossers are a lifesaver—messy, but worth it. Apples are my nemesis too... tried biting one and thought I’d lose a bracket.
bagels and even crusty bread are like edible glue with braces
Haha, that’s spot on. I literally stopped buying bagels because it’s not worth the hassle (and the risk of snapping a bracket). Water flossers are great, but honestly, I just use the little “Christmas tree” brushes—so much cheaper and you can stash one in every bag or pocket. It takes a bit longer, but my wallet appreciates it. Apples? Forget it... I’ve switched to apple sauce.
Bagels are basically orthodontic super glue, right? I had one last month and spent half my lunch break trying to excavate bits from my brackets. Lesson learned. I do miss biting into a crunchy apple, but let’s be honest, applesauce is less risky and way less embarrassing than trying to pry apple skin out of your wires in public.
Those little “Christmas tree” brushes are lifesavers. I keep one stashed in my car and another in my coat pocket—never know when you’ll need a quick rescue mission. Water flossers are nice, but I always feel like I need an engineering degree just to clean the tank properly. Plus, the noise... My dog thinks it’s a squirrel invasion every time.
I will say, though, I still indulge in the occasional crusty bread—just tear off tiny pieces and chew very carefully. It’s not glamorous, but sometimes a person needs a treat after all that brushing and flossing.
Those little “Christmas tree” brushes are lifesavers. I keep one stashed in my car and another in my coat pocket—never know when you’ll need a quick rescue mission.
Couldn’t agree more about the “Christmas tree” brushes. I actually keep a pack in my backpack, plus one in the bathroom and one at my desk. There’s something about getting a rogue bit of spinach or bread out from under a wire that feels like winning a tiny battle. I do think, though, they work best if you rinse them off right away—otherwise, they get kind of gross and less effective.
I’ve gone back and forth on water flossers. On paper, they seem like the gold standard, but honestly, I find them awkward. The tank is always either too full or not full enough, and somehow I end up spraying half the bathroom. The noise is real, too. I had to stop using mine before work because it woke up my whole household (and yeah, my cat thinks it’s a threat). I switched to regular string floss with a threader, which is more tedious, but at least it’s quiet and portable. Plus, I never have to worry about mold in the tank, which is something that low-key stresses me out.
Crunchy apples are a hard no for me now. I tried slicing them super thin, but even then, the bits get wedged in the brackets and it’s just not worth the hassle in public. Applesauce isn’t the same, but it’s better than the “excavation” process you described. I do sometimes miss biting into a sandwich without strategizing every single chew.
On the crusty bread front, I’m a little less brave. Even tearing it up small, I always feel like I’m one crunch away from popping a bracket off. I’ll risk it for pizza crust once in a while, but only at home where I can brush right after.
Here’s my current step-by-step: quick rinse, brush with a soft toothbrush, use the little brushes between brackets, then floss (with threader), and finish with mouthwash. It sounds like overkill, but it beats surprise plaque at the next ortho checkup.
Curious if anyone else has found a better way to deal with seeds (like from strawberries or everything bagels)? Those are my nemesis lately.
Seeds are the worst. I swear, every time I eat a bagel, I spend half my lunch break poking around with those little brushes. One trick I picked up—rinsing with really warm water before brushing seems to loosen most of the stubborn ones. Not perfect, but it helps.
