I feel you on the anxiety thing... braces definitely made me hyper-aware of my teeth. I tried the water flosser for a while, but honestly, it felt like it wasn't getting everything out. Maybe I was just using it wrong? Anyway, I've mostly stuck with those tiny interdental brushes—they're kind of annoying to use at first, but weirdly satisfying once you get the hang of it. Plus, my dentist seemed pretty convinced they're more effective at cleaning around brackets and wires. Still, sometimes I wonder if I'm just being paranoid or if there's actually a noticeable difference between methods. Has anyone's dentist specifically recommended one over the other? Curious if it's just personal preference or if there's some science behind it...
My dentist actually recommended sticking with the water flosser... said something about studies showing they're just as effective if used properly. Took me a while to get the angle right, but now it feels pretty thorough—might be worth another shot?
Totally agree about the water flosser—once you nail the angle, it's a game changer. I spent ages fumbling around and spraying my mirror more than my teeth, but now I'm a pro (mostly). My dentist mentioned the same thing about effectiveness, though he did say pairing it occasionally with traditional floss can help catch any sneaky bits stuck between tight spaces. Honestly, anything beats threading floss through braces wires... nightmare fuel right there.
Same here, the water flosser saved us from nightly battles with traditional floss. But honestly, I still find that stubborn bits around brackets sometimes need those tiny interdental brushes—tedious but effective. Whatever keeps the orthodontist happy and cavities away, right?
"tedious but effective"
Haha, exactly my thoughts. I tried the water flosser route too, but honestly, my wallet cried a little at checkout. Ended up sticking with those tiny interdental brushes—cheap and cheerful, even if they make me feel like I'm performing micro-surgery every night. Plus, there's something oddly satisfying about finally dislodging that stubborn popcorn kernel that's been mocking you all day... orthodontist-approved revenge, I guess?
