There are days I just rinse and hope for the best, especially after an adjustment. Don’t love it, but sometimes comfort wins over perfection.
That line really hits home. After an adjustment, I’m basically living on soup and crossing my fingers that a quick rinse is “good enough” for the day. Water flossers sounded like the dream solution—gentle, kind of fun (in a squirt-gun way), and no wrestling with string. But honestly, cleaning up the aftermath sometimes feels like more work than just using regular floss. Maybe I’m also just messy, but my bathroom mirror can confirm it’s not a clean process.
I keep coming back to string floss too, even though it’s a pain with wires everywhere. At least I know exactly what I’m getting out. Interdental brushes were a no-go for me as well—bent after one use and somehow managed to poke my gum every time.
Still haven’t found “the one” either... It’s all about what you can actually stick with on those rough days. If that means just rinsing and calling it a win, I’m not judging.
You know, I actually had the opposite experience with water flossers. My kid’s ortho recommended one after we struggled for weeks with string floss and all those wires. Yeah, it’s a bit splashy, but honestly, it’s way less of a wrestling match—especially when you’re dealing with a tired, cranky kid before bed. Have you tried using it in the shower? That’s been a game changer for us. Maybe it’s not perfect, but it beats the nightly tears and frustration. Curious if anyone else’s kid found it easier, or is mine just weirdly into gadgets?
I keep worrying that the water flosser isn’t getting in all the tight spots, especially with braces. I get what you mean about the nightly struggle—string floss is a nightmare for us too. Haven’t tried the shower trick yet… does it really help with the mess? I’m always anxious about missing plaque or causing gum issues, so I end up supervising every night. Did your ortho say it’s okay to just use the water jet? Or do you still do string sometimes?
We’re in the same boat—braces plus flossing is a whole circus act. Our ortho said water flossers are great for daily use, but still recommended string floss a few times a week, just to be safe. The shower trick actually cut down on splatter for us, but it definitely took some practice (and a couple of soggy pajamas). I totally get the anxiety about missing spots… I’m paranoid about gum issues too. For what it’s worth, our hygienist said as long as gums aren’t inflamed and checkups look good, we’re probably doing enough. Don’t beat yourself up—it’s tough!
Water flossers are tempting, but man, the price tag made me hesitate. I picked up a budget one on sale and honestly, it works pretty well—though I still get paranoid about missing stuff between brackets. Anyone else notice those things go through batteries like crazy? I still use string floss a couple times a week, mostly when I’m binge-watching something and have time to wrestle with it. Do you think the pricier water flossers are actually better, or is it just hype?
