Flossing with braces

[Tinkerbell313]

DD8 got her braces on in April and will have them for about a year. She also has a palate expander (which hopefully will come off in October although she is now use to it).

She has a water pic which she uses. However, we have been negligent in flossing. It is a chore to floss. Trust me...I understand the importance. I floss every night. But to thread it through with the dental floss threader...and then to have to do that in between each tooth.

DH and I both work out of the house...and DH travels most of each week. So, by the time I get home, its almost 7:30ish...sometimes 8. That will change and will be closer to 6pm when kids don't have activities in the winter.

So, moms/dads with kids with braces...how often do you floss their teeth?

[baileygirl]

Have you tried SuperFloss? It is basically floss with a stiffer end so you don't need to use the threader. If she is able to floss her teeth herself, she should be able to use it fairly easily. You can find it at places like Target.

[okinawama]

I had my braces taken off about a year ago, and found flossing to be a total pain too! I really liked using these opposed to actual floss. They were way easier and I felt did a good job! I tried to use them at least 3 times a week ( TMI, I'd use them while driving...) and when I got my braces off and had the routine check up there was a lot more gum bleeding than I normally had and my doctor stressed that I really needed to be diligent now to get the gums back to a healthy state.

http://www.amazon.com/GUM-Soft-Picks-40ct-Pack-of-6/dp/B004RSXP1M/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&srs=2593092011&ie=UTF8&qid=1344650575&sr=1-2&keywords=soft+picks

[sweetsue98]

You can try the platypus flossers. They are designed for braces and makes it so easy. I used them when I had braces.

http://www.platypusco.com/

[boilermakermom]

http://www.gumbrand.com/dental-floss-picks/

http://www.gumbrand.com/interdental-brushes/

I used both of these products each night. It doesn't do as good of a job as flossing, but was much less time consuming. I would floss with the stiff end floss once a week.

[Reyadawnbringer]

Have you tried SuperFloss? It is basically floss with a stiffer end so you don't need to use the threader. If she is able to floss her teeth herself, she should be able to use it fairly easily. You can find it at places like Target.

I recommend the SuperFloss. Its made by Oral B. I still use it to this day because I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth and there is no way in heck I was messing with those crappy threaders.

[KrystalS]

I recommend the SuperFloss. Its made by Oral B. I still use it to this day because I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth and there is no way in heck I was messing with those crappy threaders.

:yeahthat: I also have the permanent retainer and the Superfloss works great!

[Tinkerbell313]

thanks everyone...off to look at our options. I wish the orthodontist was a little more forthcoming in what is out there. I have looked in a couple of stores and there were not many options. Maybe I need to have my husband look out near where he works...its not so rural and I am sure there are more options.