We’ve been in the same boat with my daughter’s braces. I actually asked her dentist if it mattered which mode we used, since honestly, I can barely remember to charge the thing, let alone switch settings every time. Her dentist said the most important thing is brushing thoroughly and consistently—she didn’t seem too fussed about the “gum care” mode or any of the other fancy settings.
From a budget standpoint, I kind of resent paying extra for toothbrushes with a million features when we just stick to basic mode anyway. We haven’t noticed any difference in plaque or gum health compared to when we used manual brushes, but maybe that’s just us. The only time her hygienist commented was when we got lazy and she started missing spots behind the wires—nothing about which setting we used.
Honestly, I think those extra modes are more about making you feel like you’re doing something special than actually changing results. As long as you’re brushing well and flossing (which is its own nightmare with braces), you’re probably fine.
Honestly, I think those extra modes are more about making you feel like you’re doing something special than actually changing results. As long as you’re brushing well and flossing (which is its own nightmare with braces), you’re probably fine.
Can’t argue with you there—those “gum care” and “whitening” settings always make me roll my eyes a bit. Most folks just stick to the regular mode anyway. The real game changer for braces is just being thorough, like your hygienist said. I’ve seen plenty of patients with fancy brushes who still end up with plaque hiding behind the wires, and others using cheap manual brushes who do great because they’re super diligent.
The only thing I’d add is that some people find electric brushes make it easier to get a good clean, especially around brackets, but it’s not magic. If you’re brushing for two minutes and hitting all the angles, you’re way ahead of the game—regardless of how many bells and whistles your brush has.
And yeah, flossing with braces… that’s a workout. I wish I had a better answer for that one, but patience (and maybe a good podcast) seems to be the only trick.
I used to be pretty skeptical about electric toothbrushes, honestly. For years, I just stuck with a regular manual brush and figured as long as I was careful and thorough, it didn’t really matter. Then I had to get braces as an adult (which is a whole saga in itself), and my hygienist kept pointing out spots I was missing—especially around the brackets.
I finally caved and tried an electric one, but not for any of the fancy “polish” or “sensitive” modes. What actually made a difference for me was the timer and the way the oscillating head could get into those weird angles around the wires. Still, I agree that it’s not a miracle cure. If I got lazy, I’d still end up with gunk hiding in there.
Flossing, though... ugh. I went through so many floss threaders and lost count of how many times I poked my gums. Podcasts definitely helped make it less tedious, but I never found a true shortcut. It’s just persistence, I guess.
Flossing, though... ugh. I went through so many floss threaders and lost count of how many times I poked my gums.
That brings back memories. I had braces twice (don’t ask), and honestly, flossing was the worst part. I swear the only thing that got me through was switching to those tiny interdental brushes. Not a perfect substitute, but at least I wasn’t stabbing myself every night. Electric toothbrushes definitely made a difference for me too—especially after coffee stains started showing up in weird spots. Still gotta put in the work, though.
I get where you’re coming from with the interdental brushes—those little guys are a lifesaver when you’ve got metal in your mouth. But honestly, I still think nothing beats actual floss for getting between the teeth, especially if you’re prone to tight contacts or have those pesky “food trap” spots. I tried the brushes for a while during my own ortho adventure, and they were decent, but I always felt like I was just moving stuff around instead of really cleaning.
On the electric toothbrush front, though, I’m with you. The sonic ones in particular do a pretty thorough job (plus, they make me feel like I’m living in the future). Still, even with all that tech, if you skip flossing entirely... well, let’s just say my hygienist would give me that look.
Coffee stains are another beast—sometimes it feels like no brush can keep up if you’re a daily drinker. At this point, I just accept the fact that my teeth will never be “commercial white” and focus on keeping them healthy instead of perfect.
