Haha, feather brushing—that's a new one! Reminds me when my dentist convinced me to switch brushes. Felt like I was tickling my teeth at first, but now I'm hooked. Curious though, anyone tried those water flossers? Worth the hype or just another gadget collecting dust?
I've actually been using a water flosser for about a year now, mostly because my kiddo has braces and regular flossing was turning into a nightly battle. Honestly, it's been a lifesaver for us—way less hassle and his gums look healthier too. But I do wonder if it's as effective long-term as traditional flossing...anyone had feedback from their dentist on that?
"Honestly, it's been a lifesaver for us—way less hassle and his gums look healthier too."
That's great it's working out for your kid! I had braces myself a couple years back and switched to a water flosser too. My dentist did mention though that while they're awesome for getting food out of brackets, they don't always scrape off plaque as effectively as traditional floss. She suggested alternating between the two methods every few days. Might be worth checking with your dentist next visit just to be sure...
Glad to hear the water flosser's making a difference for your kid—braces can be such a pain to keep clean. And yeah, they're awesome at blasting out food bits stuck in brackets, but like you mentioned, they don't always tackle plaque buildup as thoroughly as regular floss. Ever tried threading floss under braces wires at 11 pm when you're half asleep? Not exactly my idea of a good time...
Alternating methods is actually a pretty solid suggestion. I've seen patients who swear by water flossers alone, and their gums do look better initially, but sometimes plaque sneaks back in quietly. Mixing it up every few days can help keep things balanced. But hey, if your kid's gums are looking healthier already, you're definitely doing something right. Maybe just double-check with your dentist next time you're in—can't hurt to get their take on it too.
I've noticed something similar with my gums lately, too... I started using a water flosser about two months ago because regular flossing was just getting too tedious (especially late at night when I'm barely awake). At first, things seemed great—my gums felt less irritated, and I thought I'd finally found the perfect solution. But after a few weeks, I noticed some sensitivity and redness creeping back in. Got a bit anxious about it, honestly.
So I did some digging around online and saw a few people mentioning that water flossers alone might not be enough to fully remove plaque buildup. Decided to cautiously alternate between regular floss and the water flosser every other day, and it seems to be helping. My gums feel calmer again, but I'm still keeping a close eye on things because I'm paranoid about gum issues turning into something worse.
Definitely agree that checking with your dentist is a smart move. I plan on asking mine next visit, just to ease my mind. Gum health can be tricky, and I'd rather be safe than sorry...
