oral hygiene
 

i just got braces. first of all, it sucks getting braces senior year. second of all, does anyone actually DO half the stuff they say? I've never flossed, and never gotten a cavity before braces. they sorta scared it into me the other day (i flossed for maybe the third time ever last night after getting the braces on yesterday morning). its a royal pain in the butt. does it REALLY affect anything anyway?

Research has suggested that rinsing with Listerine twice daily is just as effective as flossing. Of course, this research was funded by Pfizer, which would suggest it's slightly biased, but it's still not likely to be far off base. Flossing with braces is a difficult event, so try the easier road and just use Listerine.

It's funny that in the ads publicizing that research, they have fine print running that says something to the effect that flossing is still an essential part of oral hygiene. At least it did in the version I saw.

I'm with Crodevillian though... if not flossing never caused any problems before for you, why start when it's most inconvenient to do so? Unless it's very different with braces...

Me, I always both floss and use mouthwash, but maybe having something like ten pounds of teeth influenced me.

I always brush twice a day. But I never used to floss or use mouthwash. I have never had a cavity or any other problems with my teeth. Utill I got my tounge pierced. Then I started useing mouthwash, cuz it's like a part of making sure that your tounge doesn't get infected, now I'm just used to it.

Neener neener neener. I just recently got mine off.

Anyway, just bear with it. Your teeth are gonna look really good after you get them off, providing you brush a lot more. My teeth look all cool now. But if you don't brush, the part the brackets were over will look all clean because food never reached those areas, and the rest of your teeth won't match it. It happened to my friend, and it looked horrible.

But, you gotta watch out for these orthodontist types, they don't want you to go too long without some of their crap in your mouth. After they took mine off, my doctor ambushed me with some of those teeth mold things (which I almost choked on...) and told me I have to wear a retainer.

And no, you don't have to do all that stuff like they tell you, just brush a lot more (you know you're done when you spit out blood). I did that and my teeth turned out fine.

I got my braces out a few months ago, so I'll help you out. (For the record, I have a permanent retainer grafted to my front teeth.)

When you first get braces, the main thought you'll have is, "If there is truely a hell, everyone there has braces." Everytime you get them tightened, especially if you have spacers, this thought will reoccur. To prevent: 2 hours before you go, take Advil. For the next day to two days, eat nothing but mashed potatoes and make sure to watch out where you put that fork. If you touch your teeth, you will regret it.

As far as the brushing/flossing goes: I wish I had. My teeth didn't come out multicolored, but I probably should've brushed more. The rule "When your gums bleed you're done" is actually a pretty good one to follow. Just don't brush them raw, or your dentist will get pissed at you (for good reason). I flossed about once a week, but Listerine twice daily is undoubtedly the way to go. The difference between Listerine and flossing is that Listerine kills bacteria and prevents bad breath, whereas flossing removes solid crap, like steak fragments.

EDIT: To clarify, the permanent retainer is little more than a wire that is attached using stronger cement than is used for braces to the back of my bottom front teeth. However, I did have to wear a normal retainer for a while.

ACK!! Holy crap, you got screwed over, didn't you?

And I had the spacers too. Whenever the tighten them, I just kinda walked around with my mouth open, because closing my mouth had become painful. That should never ever happen.

I remember some time ago when I stopped brushing almost entirely for a period of about 6 months or so. My teeth stayed the same color, and actually looked worse after those times I did brush. 'Course I learned my lesson when 5 cavities were found and fillings were put in. But my brother, who brushed twice a day, had six :D
So I brush everyday now.

I frikkin hate flossing. It always hurts my gums and I think it uneccessary

i've got that too on my two front teeth.

but yeah, take care of those teefers. i didn't do as good a job with my teeth as i should have when i had my braces on, and i'm startin to run into some problems.

i have an oddly shaped jaw thats way too long and only like 1-2% of all people have. every one else has one of the 2 normally shaped ones at a regular length. and my underbit is KILLER. my bottom teeth stuck out like 4mm farther out when i first got my braces. that gap is now down to something like 2mm. so im progressing. and im already done with 4 months of my 24 month treatment. :p .

im also a junior...in highschool.