Getting my kid to master the water flosser was an adventure in itself—first few tries, I swear more water landed on the bathroom tiles than anywhere near her teeth. We ended up setting up a little “braces kit” with a regular brush, an interdental one, and the flosser. On rough days when her gums are sore, we just stick to gentle brushing and skip the extras. It’s a lot of trial and error, but you’re right, you do find a rhythm eventually... even if it means cleaning toothpaste splatters off the mirror more often than you’d like.
On rough days when her gums are sore, we just stick to gentle brushing and skip the extras.
Honestly, I used to do the same—skip the extras on sore days—but then my ortho warned me about stuff getting stuck under the wires. Now, even when my mouth feels like it’s been through a blender, I at least try the interdental brush. It’s tiny and less splashy than the water flosser (my bathroom thanks me). Not perfect, but better than discovering a popcorn kernel two days later…
Yeah, those little interdental brushes are a lifesaver when flossing just isn’t happening. But even those add up cost-wise—do you reuse yours for a few days, or toss after each use? I always wonder if I’m being too cheap or just practical.
I’ve wondered about this too. Those little brushes aren’t cheap, especially if you’re using them every day with braces or tight teeth. Personally, I get a few uses out of each one unless it starts to look really worn or the bristles are all bent out of shape. I rinse them well and let them dry between uses—seems practical to me, not just being cheap.
“do you reuse yours for a few days, or toss after each use? I always wonder if I’m being too cheap or just practical.”
Honestly, I think it’s more wasteful to toss after a single use unless there’s food really stuck in there that won’t come out. My dentist actually said as long as they aren’t fraying and you rinse them, it’s fine to reuse for several days. At my age, I try not to throw away money on things that don’t need replacing daily.
Back when I had my bridgework done, those brushes were the only thing that kept everything clean...but I’d have gone broke tossing them after every use. Just trust your gut—if it looks gross, toss it. Otherwise, save a bit where you can.
“Just trust your gut—if it looks gross, toss it. Otherwise, save a bit where you can.”
That makes a lot of sense. I always feel kind of weird about reusing them, but honestly, I can’t imagine throwing one away after every single use unless it’s really nasty. For me, rinsing them out and letting them dry is usually enough. Sometimes I’ll even dab a little mouthwash on the bristles if I’m feeling extra cautious—no idea if that actually helps, but it makes me feel better.
I’m new to braces and didn’t realize how fast you go through those little brushes. The cost definitely adds up. Has anyone noticed if certain brands last longer? Mine seem to bend after just a few days, but maybe I’m using too much pressure.
Also, is there a trick to getting food out without destroying the brush? Sometimes stuff gets wedged in there and I end up mangling the bristles just trying to clean between wires. Any tips would be awesome... I’d rather not spend a fortune just keeping my teeth clean.
