Yeah, those silk flosses look cool but I tried one and it just got stuck everywhere. Ended up with bits of it hanging off my brackets... not cute. Water flosser is loud but honestly, worth it for the time saved. Still wish there was an easy eco option that actually works for tight teeth though.
Yeah, silk floss seemed like the eco dream until it turned into a bracket-hanging nightmare for me too. Had to fish out little threads for days... not my best look. I get what you mean about water flossers—mine sounds like a jet engine but at least it doesn't leave me picking bits out of my teeth all night. If only someone could invent a quiet, sustainable option that doesn’t act like Velcro on braces.
I’ve been on this same hunt for something that actually works with braces and doesn’t make me feel guilty about the waste. Silk floss was a disaster for me too—mine got so tangled in the brackets I had to get tweezers involved, and even then, I was worried I’d bend a wire. I tried those corn-based biodegradable ones, but they snapped constantly. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have the patience to re-thread floss through every bracket gap multiple times a night.
The water flosser is definitely easier, but the noise is unreal. My partner jokes it sounds like I’m running an air compressor at bedtime. I’ve read about those “stringless” reusable silicone picks, but I’m hesitant since some reviews mention they’re tough to clean and might not get everything out from under the wires. Has anyone actually found them effective for tight spaces? Or do they just push stuff around?
I keep thinking there must be something out there that’s both eco-friendly and actually works for people with orthodontics. Maybe some kind of coated thread that doesn’t shred or catch? Or even a quieter water flosser—does that exist or is it just wishful thinking? I’m starting to wonder if it’s just one of those situations where you have to pick two out of three: quiet, sustainable, or effective.
Curious if anyone’s dentist has recommended something truly different. Mine just shrugs and says “whatever you’ll use consistently,” but none of these options really fit that bill for me yet.
I hear you on the silk floss disaster—been there, and I still cringe remembering the time I got it so stuck I ended up poking around with a paperclip (not my finest moment). The guilt about waste is real, but honestly, I always remind myself that doing a so-so job just to be eco-friendly isn’t really helping my teeth or the planet in the long run. It’s such a balancing act.
The “stringless” silicone picks are a mixed bag from what I’ve seen. A few patients swear by them for travel, but most say they’re a pain to keep clean, and yeah, they don’t get under wires as well as you’d hope. I wish there was a magic, silent water flosser too—some of the smaller cordless ones are a bit quieter, but they still sound like a mini jet engine to me.
Your dentist’s advice about “whatever you’ll use” is honestly what I end up telling people too, even if it feels like a cop-out. There’s just no perfect answer yet. You’re definitely not alone in feeling stuck between options that are only half-right.
The guilt about waste is real, but honestly, I always remind myself that doing a so-so job just to be eco-friendly isn’t really helping my teeth or the planet in the long run.
Totally relate to this. Tried compostable floss for months—felt good about the planet, but my gums weren’t happy. Ended up back with regular floss after a stern talk from my hygienist. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.