Right before getting braces, did you go for a professional cleaning at the dentist or just do a super thorough job at home? I’m a bit torn—my dentist says a cleaning is “strongly recommended,” but my wallet says maybe I can just brush and floss like crazy for a week. For anyone who’s been through it, which route did you take and did it make a difference?
We were in the same boat a few months back when my daughter got her braces. I’ll admit, I was tempted to just ramp up her brushing and flossing at home to save a bit, but we ended up going for the professional cleaning. Our orthodontist said it would make things smoother, and honestly, it did seem to help. The hygienist got into spots we’d never reach, and they found a bit of tartar we’d missed. I know it’s another expense, but it gave me peace of mind knowing her teeth were totally ready for the braces. If budget’s tight, maybe call around—some places offer discounts for pre-ortho cleanings.
I get super anxious about missing anything before braces, so I caved and did the pro cleaning too. My dentist found way more gunk than I thought was there—kinda embarrassing, honestly. I do brush like crazy, but those little spots are impossible to reach. The bill stung, but not as much as the idea of trapped tartar for two years... Worth it for my peace of mind, at least.
I totally get where you're coming from. I was on the fence about the pro cleaning too—felt kinda silly since I’m pretty obsessive with my brushing. But right before braces, my dentist pointed out some sneaky plaque hiding behind my lower front teeth. Honestly, I didn’t even realize it was there. The price did hurt, but knowing I wasn’t trapping anything under the brackets made me feel way better. DIY just isn’t enough for those weird spots, I guess...
The price did hurt, but knowing I wasn’t trapping anything under the brackets made me feel way better. DIY just isn’t enough for those weird spots, I guess...
That hidden plaque thing is real—I thought my teeth were spotless, but during my cleaning, the hygienist found gunk way back by my molars I never would’ve reached at home. It was kinda embarrassing, honestly. Afterward, I felt a lot better about getting the braces on.