Teeth Whitening Full Dentist Guide

I can’t floss around my permanent retainer!?

Q: When I got my braces off, I got a permanent retainer in. I was told to use either floss threaders or superfloss. My ortho said that the teeth are really tight, so there shouldn’t be a lot of food getting in there anyways, so I should be able to get away with not doing it that often. I have tried SO HARD to get the floss in there, but it just won’t fit!! I push it in, and it feels like its just poking the gum in/on the back of my tooth. The retainer is getting removed in a couple years, so do you think I could get away with using my soniccare brush and a waterpik in that area?

A: I’ll bet your general Dentist and hygienist have a different answer about flossing than your orthodontist!
Call your regular dentist’s office ask to be taught how to floss under your new fixed retainer. They’ll either find a way, or adjust it so you are able to floss.

Here’s a tip: try using GUM Soft Picks. They work below the wire. No threading! There’s a learning curve in that it takes awhile to get good at maneuvering the soft little ‘rubber scrubber’ between the teeth (below the contact, at the level of the papilla). It may take a few days of bent picks while trying, but eventually the tissue will yield. The beauty is that they are so soft, you can’t poke yourself. Once you ‘get it’ you’ll become a convert.

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