I tried skipping the fancy rinse too because, wow, that price.
I actually went the opposite way and splurged on the rinse just to see if it made a difference. Honestly, I didn’t notice a huge change compared to regular brushing and flossing. The food traps are still a pain. Sometimes I think technique matters more than what you use, but maybe I’m missing something?
That’s interesting—because I’ve always wondered if the fancier rinses were just hype or if they actually help with stuff like food traps. I tried one of those “advanced” mouthwashes for a month before getting my braces, since my ortho kept mentioning how important it is to keep things super clean. Honestly, it made my mouth feel minty for a while, but I didn’t really notice less gunk getting stuck after meals. Still had to floss like crazy.
I actually asked my hygienist about this a while back and she said the rinse can help with bacteria, but if you’re not brushing/flossing right (especially around those brackets or in tight spots), it won’t magically fix that. I guess it’s more about how thorough you are than what bottle you grab off the shelf.
The food trap thing drives me nuts. I have this one spot between two molars that’s like a black hole for every seed and bit of lettuce. Even with the fancy rinse, it never felt totally clean unless I went at it with floss and one of those little interdental brushes. Maybe water flossers are better for this? I haven’t tried them yet—are they worth the money?
Sometimes I feel like dental products are a bit like gym equipment…they promise quick results but only work if you actually put in the effort. For me, technique is what makes the difference, not spending more on rinse. But maybe there’s something out there that actually helps with food traps? Would love to know if anyone found something that really works, because honestly, picking spinach out of my braces at dinner is getting old…
Water flossers are actually pretty effective for food traps, especially with braces. I got one after getting tired of regular floss not reaching behind my wires, and honestly it made a noticeable difference. It’s not a total replacement for flossing, but it blasts out stuff from those annoying gaps way faster. The initial cost is higher than a pack of floss, but if you’re dealing with constant gunk, it’s worth it. Just takes a bit of getting used to—first time I tried it, I sprayed water all over my mirror... but now I wouldn’t go back.
- Totally get what you mean about the water flosser mess... first time I tried one, I soaked my shirt and the sink.
- Glad to hear it actually works for braces—been debating if it’s worth buying.
- The price is kinda steep, but if it makes cleaning less of a pain, seems like a solid investment.
- Props for sticking with it. Regular floss just doesn’t cut it with wires everywhere.
- Thanks for sharing your experience—it helps hearing real feedback before spending the cash.
I remember the first time I used a water flosser—thought I had it under control, but nope, ended up spraying the mirror and my face more than anything else. Once I got the hang of it, though, it was a total game changer with braces. Yeah, it’s not cheap, but for me, it seriously cut down on the time and frustration compared to fighting regular floss around wires. I did get my teeth professionally cleaned right before getting braces put on, just to start fresh, but after that, it’s been all about tech at home.
