"Have you tried floss threaders or orthodontic floss picks yet?"
Threaders were a lifesaver for my son. He was pretty anxious about flossing at first too, especially after one night when he thought he'd broken a bracket (thankfully it was just paranoia!). We switched to those little plastic threaders, and suddenly flossing wasn't such a big deal anymore. I agree the interdental brushes are great for brackets, but yeah, they don't quite get into those tight spaces between teeth.
Have you considered adding a water flosser into the mix? My son resisted at first because of the weird sensation, but once he got used to it, he actually liked it better than regular floss. It doesn't replace traditional floss entirely—our orthodontist made that clear—but it definitely helps flush out food particles stuck around wires and brackets. Might be worth a try if you're still feeling anxious about snapping something off...
Threaders definitely helped me too, but does anyone else find them annoyingly pricey for what they are? I've been thinking about a water flosser, but I'm worried it'll just end up collecting dust if I hate the feeling...is it really worth the investment?
I felt exactly the same way about water flossers at first—thought it'd be another bathroom gadget collecting dust. But honestly, it's been a game changer for me. Weird sensation at first, but now I can't imagine braces life without it... totally worth it imo.
Glad I'm not the only one who felt weird about water flossers. I was skeptical at first too, worried I'd spray water everywhere or something... but it does seem to help with braces. Still kinda nervous I'll accidentally blast a bracket off though, haha. Good to hear it's working out for you, gives me some hope I'll get used to it eventually.
"Still kinda nervous I'll accidentally blast a bracket off though, haha."
Haha, totally understandable—but trust me, those brackets are tougher than they look. Have you tried starting on the lowest pressure setting and working your way up slowly? It helps ease into it without feeling like you're power-washing your teeth. I promise, after a week or two, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it... and your gums will thank you too. Hang in there, you're doing great!
