I've had similar issues with flossing—regular floss always made my gums feel raw and irritated no matter how gentle I tried to be. Switched to those soft picks a few months ago, and honestly, it's been a game changer. They're pretty affordable too, especially if you grab them on sale or in bulk packs online. One thing I've noticed though is that the brand seems to matter quite a bit. Some cheaper ones felt scratchy and actually made things worse, but others were super gentle and effective.
Have you found any particular brands or types of soft picks that seem gentler or more comfortable? I'm always on the lookout for budget-friendly options that don't compromise on comfort...
I've tried soft picks too, but honestly, I found interdental brushes way more comfy. They look intimidating at first (tiny bottle brushes for your teeth, lol), but they're gentle and clean better IMO. Might be worth a shot if picks aren't perfect...
"They look intimidating at first (tiny bottle brushes for your teeth, lol), but they're gentle and clean better IMO."
Hmm, gotta admit, I never found interdental brushes that comfy myself. Maybe it's just me, but they always felt kinda awkward to maneuver around my back teeth. I switched to a water flosser a few months back and honestly, it's been a game changer. Super gentle on my gums, and weirdly satisfying too, haha. Might be worth exploring if brushes aren't your thing...
I feel you on the water flosser thing... braces made interdental brushes a total hassle for me too. Switched to a water flosser and my gums chilled out pretty quick. Did yours feel kinda sensitive at first though? Took mine a bit to adjust.
Totally relate to the sensitivity thing—when I first started using a water flosser, my gums felt super tender and even bled a bit. Freaked me out at first, honestly. I almost stopped using it altogether because I thought it was making things worse. But my dentist convinced me to stick with it, just on a lower pressure setting for a while. Glad I listened, because after about two weeks things settled down and now it's way better than those interdental brushes ever were.
One thing I'd suggest is being careful with the water temperature too. At first, I didn't pay attention and used cold water straight from the tap... big mistake. Warm water made a huge difference in comfort level for me. Also, don't rush it—take your time and ease into higher settings gradually if you decide to go there at all. Honestly though, I'm still cautious about cranking up the pressure too high... better safe than sorry when it comes to gums!
