Honestly, I’m with you on the tape-style floss. I tried picks for a bit because, let’s face it, after wrestling with braces all day, I don’t exactly crave more dental acrobatics before bed. But the picks just don’t get between my molars right—feels like trying to floss with a credit card. Tape floss slides in way easier, and my gums have stopped throwing tantrums, so that’s a win. Still wish there was a “set it and forget it” option for flossing though…
Tape floss is the only thing my kiddo will tolerate—she’s got those tight little teeth and regular floss just shreds. I tried to convince her to use picks since they seem so much easier, but she always complains they don’t really clean between the back teeth. Honestly, I get it. Has anyone had any luck with water flossers for kids? I keep wondering if that’s worth the mess...
We tried a water flosser for my son after struggling with regular floss and picks. The first few uses were kind of messy, but he actually liked the sensation and it seemed to clean well enough. Did you have any trouble getting your kid comfortable with the noise or the spray? Some kids are more sensitive to that than others...
My daughter was really startled by the noise at first—she actually jumped the first time we turned it on. We tried letting her hold it and control the button herself, which seemed to help a bit. I think the unpredictability of the spray was more of an issue than the sound for her. It took a few nights of practice (with towels everywhere), but now she’s actually reminding me to use it. Kids adapt, but it was definitely a messy process at the start...
That unpredictable spray is no joke—my nephew called it the “mouth sprinkler” and acted like we’d unleashed a garden hose in the bathroom. Honestly, I think you nailed it with letting her take charge of the button. When kids feel like they have some control, it’s way less scary. The towel barricade is a classic move too... I still keep one handy, just in case my aim goes wild. Glad she’s gotten used to it—kids surprise us with how adaptable they can be, even if it’s a wet and wild ride at first.