I get what you mean about those little proxy brushes—they’re handy, but I swear I spend more time fishing them out from behind the sink than actually cleaning my teeth. As for water flossers, I used to think they were just another gimmick too, but honestly, they’ve saved my old hands a lot of grief. Flossing with wires was torture for me. The water flosser’s not perfect, but at least I don’t end up with sore gums and frustration. Guess it depends how much patience you’ve got left after all that brushing...
Those little proxy brushes are like socks in the laundry—where do they even go? My kid’s been in braces for a year now, and I swear we’ve lost more of those tiny brushes than actual teeth. I’m with you about the water flosser. At first, I thought it was just another gadget to clutter up the bathroom counter, but after watching my daughter try to thread regular floss around all that metal, I caved. It’s not perfect (she still manages to spray the mirror every time), but at least she doesn’t complain about sore gums anymore.
I do wonder, though—does anyone else feel like the water flosser doesn’t quite get everything? Sometimes I still spot a bit of food stuck behind a bracket, even after a full “power wash.” Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I end up double-checking with a regular brush anyway. Parenting through braces is basically just a series of tiny victories and minor defeats, right?
I totally get what you mean about the water flosser not catching everything. I just got braces a few months ago and honestly, I’m still paranoid I’m missing stuff, even after blasting my mouth for ages. I always end up poking around with a regular brush too, just in case. It’s kind of exhausting trying to keep up, and those tiny brushes disappear on me all the time. I swear, I found one in my backpack last week and I have no clue how it got there.
those tiny brushes disappear on me all the time. I swear, I found one in my backpack last week and I have no clue how it got there.
I’m convinced those little brushes are secretly multiplying and hiding everywhere... I found one in my laundry once. Honestly, I still use my old-school toothbrush after the water flosser too. Feels like overkill, but I’d rather be paranoid than end up with mystery gunk stuck somewhere. At this point, I just accept I’ll be digging bristle bits out of weird places until the braces come off.
At this point, I just accept I’ll be digging bristle bits out of weird places until the braces come off.
Is it normal to feel like you’re never really getting everything clean, even with all these tools? I keep worrying there’s stuff hiding where I can’t see. I still use my regular brush too, but sometimes I wonder if I’m just being obsessive. Does anyone actually trust those little brushes to do the job, or am I missing something?