Those soft brushes are a total racket, I swear. My dentist gave me the same advice when I got my last set of trays, and I went through three brushes in a month. I thought maybe I was just gnashing them around like a lumberjack, but it’s really just the bristles giving up. I started buying those 10-packs at Costco and just resigned myself to tossing one every week or two. I guess the upside is my bathroom drawer looks like a dental supply closet now.
Interdental brushes—“tooth swords” is hilarious, by the way—are honestly the only thing that kept me from losing my mind with all the food stuck everywhere. I tried the water flosser too, but unless you’re blasting it on full power and end up spraying your mirror (and yourself), it just doesn’t do the trick. There’s something weirdly satisfying about poking out that last bit of lettuce with a tiny brush, even if it’s not glamorous.
The costs do add up, though. Between the special toothpaste, mouthwash, and those wax packs for pokey wires, I half-expect my orthodontist to start sending me a monthly bill for “accessories.” I remember thinking braces would be a one-time investment, but it’s more like a never-ending shopping list.
On the bright side, I did notice that my breath was way better once I got into the habit of all the extra cleaning. My partner even commented on it, which was both nice and a little embarrassing—like, was it that bad before? Guess you don’t realize until someone points it out.
I still miss the days when I could just run a brush over my teeth and call it done. Now it’s like a whole routine with props. At least morning breath isn’t quite as deadly as it used to be... small mercies, right?
I get what you’re saying about the soft brushes wearing out, but I actually switched to a medium bristle after my second pack of soft ones fell apart in a week. My orthodontist wasn’t thrilled about it, but honestly, my gums didn’t seem to mind and the brushes lasted way longer. Has anyone else tried that, or am I just rolling the dice with gum recession? The water flosser thing—I’m with you there, though. I feel like it’s more mess than it’s worth, especially first thing in the morning when I’m barely awake.
My orthodontist wasn’t thrilled about it, but honestly, my gums didn’t seem to mind and the brushes lasted way longer.
We’re kind of in the same boat over here. My kiddo’s been through a bunch of soft brushes too, and I swear they just disintegrate after a few days with braces. I did try switching to medium once out of frustration, but our ortho gave me the whole “risk of gum damage” talk... Still, I totally get why you’d make the swap. Sometimes it feels like you have to pick between a brush that actually lasts or one that’s “approved.”
The water flosser thing cracks me up because I tried using one before school drop-off and ended up with water all over my shirt. Not the best look before coffee. We’ve mostly stuck with regular floss for now, even though it’s a pain with wires everywhere.
Honestly, I think half of this is just finding what works and doesn’t drive you (or your gums) crazy. If your mouth feels fine, maybe it’s not as big a deal as they make it out to be?
Honestly, I think half of this is just finding what works and doesn’t drive you (or your gums) crazy.
That’s honestly the most relatable thing I’ve read all day. My partner used to joke that our sink looked like a graveyard for soft brushes—bristles everywhere, but nothing that actually survived more than a week with their braces. We did try mediums for a bit too, but then the ortho guilt-tripped us hard. I get why they’re cautious, but sometimes it feels like they’ve never actually tried brushing around wires themselves.
Water flossers are a whole adventure on their own. First time I tried one, I ended up spraying the cat. Now it’s just regular floss and patience (and maybe a few curse words under my breath). I figure as long as your mouth feels healthy and you’re not noticing any bleeding or soreness, you’re probably doing alright. Everybody’s mouth is different, right? Sometimes you just have to roll with what works and try not to stress too much about being “perfect.”
That whole “graveyard for soft brushes” thing hit home. I swear, I’ve gone through more toothbrushes in the last year than I did in the previous decade. And yeah, the ortho lectures about using only soft bristles... but then you’re standing there with this sad, frayed brush that looks like it’s been through a blender after a week. I tried an electric one for a while, thinking it’d be gentler, but it just made my gums feel like they were under attack.
Water flossers are their own beast. The first time I used mine, I managed to soak my shirt and half the bathroom mirror—didn’t even get between the brackets. Now it’s a mix of regular floss (those threader things are a pain but at least they work), mouthwash, and just hoping for the best most mornings. I honestly think as long as your mouth doesn’t feel like it’s staging a rebellion and you’re not spitting blood, you’re probably doing fine. Perfection is overrated anyway... especially before coffee.
