I used to be super picky with cleaning when I first got my aligners, but honestly, some nights it’s just not happening. I’ll do a quick brush and tell myself I’ll make up for it in the morning. Water flossers are cool, but I always end up spraying half the bathroom... Still, way less hassle than string floss. For me, it’s more about not letting a bad day turn into a bad week. Even if it’s not perfect every time, I figure something is better than nothing.
Totally get where you’re coming from. Some nights I’m just too tired to do the whole routine, so a quick brush is all I manage. Haven’t tried a water flosser yet, but string floss is the worst. As long as you’re not skipping days, I think you’re good.
I totally relate to those nights where you just can’t muster the energy for the whole routine. But I gotta say, after getting braces, I realized skipping the in-between cleaning—even if it’s just a day or two—made a big difference for me. I started noticing my gums getting puffy and honestly, food gets trapped so easily with all that hardware. I used to dread string floss too, but once I switched to a water flosser, it actually felt kind of satisfying? Like, you can literally see stuff coming out. I know it sounds a bit gross, but it’s true.
Do you ever worry about stains or white spots? That’s what pushed me to get pickier, especially after my orthodontist showed me photos of what can happen. I’m curious if anyone else here has found a trick that makes the routine less of a chore. For me, putting on a podcast while I clean helps the time go by faster.
I used to dread string floss too, but once I switched to a water flosser, it actually felt kind of satisfying? Like, you can literally see stuff coming out.
Totally agree about the water flosser—makes things so much easier. I was skeptical until I tried one and now I can’t imagine going back. The white spots thing freaks me out a bit too, especially after seeing those photos at the ortho’s office. Ever tried those little proxy brushes? They’re not as quick as a water flosser but sometimes they get stuff the jet misses. Podcasts are a solid hack for making it less boring, though.
I hear you on the water flosser—honestly, it’s a total game changer. I was always annoyed with regular floss, mostly because it kept shredding on my brackets. The water flosser actually feels like it’s doing something, and seeing all that gunk come out is weirdly satisfying.
White spots are my nightmare too. My ortho showed me those before-and-after photos of decalcification and now I’m super paranoid. I use those little proxy brushes if I feel like something is stuck, but yeah, they take way more time. Sometimes I wonder if I’m overdoing it, but I’d rather spend an extra couple minutes than risk permanent marks.
Podcasts are my go-to as well—makes the whole process way less tedious. Kind of wild how much tech can make something as boring as oral hygiene a bit more bearable. If you find any other gadgets that help, let me know... always down to try something new for the sake of clean teeth.