Reddit mentions: The best dental floss & picks

1. Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable Mini Toothbrush, Peppermint - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXAIN90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_srDoDbQNF1M5N
   
   Great for on the go and at my desk for a quick “brush” but there aren’t many in a pack so I try to use no more than 1 of these per day. I got mine at Target but probably would get a better deal on Amazon.
   
   
2. Plackers Orthopick Flosser for Braces - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKJ3W7I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HsDoDbRJTQV6P
   
   Samples of these came in my “kit” from my ortho and I ordered a stock on amazon. I use these at nigh and use my waterpik in the morning.
   
   
3. Plackers Grind No More Dental Night Guard for Teeth Grinding- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GDKH9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xtDoDbMBQ84EH
   
   I let my dentist and ortho know I use these (I prefer them to any other mouth guard I’ve tried) and they ok’d them with braces since they aren’t the heat & mold kind. I use them for a little longer than the box recommends (3 days) but toss them when they get gross.
   
   
4. GUM Orthodontic Wax, Mint with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQ9FF1J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iuDoDbAEJZPTT
   
   I keep seeing people saying they can’t keep wax on. I love this wax (I got 2 kinds, no flavor and mint) because it’s perforated and easy to size out. Just roll in your fingers before applying otherwise it’s not going to stick. The mint is nice and fresh! I am using this a lot while my cheeks are getting used to poking metal but always remove before eating or brushing!
   
   
5. Preserve Mint Tea Tree Flavored Toothpicks- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077J1K6ZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yvDoDbZ4D9Y
   
   Do not use these too aggressively, you don’t want to damage your braces! But after a meal these have been a lifesaver for me. I gently (and hopefully discretely) get food unstuck. I got minty ones and keep a pack in jackets, backpack, car... I’m serious when I say lifesaver!
   
   
6. Trident Sugar Free Chewing Gum- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F1W4Y48/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AwDoDb2NFAKMM
   
   This is a bigger debate than getting wax to stick! My ortho did tell me that sugar free gum is allowed but not too much and don’t keep chewing it if it dissolves. Consult your ortho if you’re not sure. I was surprised to find that almost all gum is sugar free. Not all but most. I was searching all over for “SUGAR FREE” specifically and it was right at the register! I might get the 15 pack on Amazon though.
   
   
7. Slim Brush Interdental Cleaners- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009MHV3VW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cyDoDb81CT899
   
   Honestly I don’t use these that often but once and a while it’s nice to clean every nook and cranny. I have to force myself to floss every day so this isn’t something I use often. They are more gentle than toothpicks but food gets caught in the tiny bristles and it turns into a mess. I picked up a small pack at Target.

Haha well thank you!! One will do nicely! :)

Anyone who’s worked in the medical field for more than like 6 months should know it by the name of Magic Mouthwash, but it also goes by “GI Cocktail” because when swallowed it’s great for stomach pain, but you’d just want to swish and spit. Different places call it different things, but asking for the 1:1:1 ratio of Maalox, Benadryl, and Lidocaine should do the trick!! Pharmacies will definitely know what it is if they write the script for that!!

OMAD is the best!!! Braces make it even better! Haha

Food gets stuck in my braces 100% of the time. That being said, your experience may be different!! I’m missing a tooth on my bottom row and my teeth are super tight on the top, so big things get stuck in the bottom teeth since they’re pretty spaced out and little things get stuck in my top teeth because they’re so close. It’s a nightmare, really. But on its way to being fixed! I’m saying decay happens because of food, so naturally, if food is there for a longer amount of time I would think decay is more likely. But I’m not a dentist, so I can’t tell you that for shizzle!! What I’m mostly meaning by that is that I’m nervous my teeth will decay around where the cement is but be their perfect state of health underneath where the brackets are stuck and they’ll look weird when they’re off. This is totally irrational, I’m just a little bit psycho about my teeth hahaha. I just got my first cavity at age 24 and it was terrifying! Until now, I really haven’t had any dental work (born without wisdom teeth, yay!) so it’s all new and a little scary to me because I’ve been a freak about my teeth since I could talk hahaha. I’m sure it’s not a big deal at all, and as long as you keep up on your brushing, flossing, and fluoride mouthwash you’ll be golden!!

I also cannot recommend these flossers enough!! Flossing the normal way with braces is muy frustrating, so these are the best!! The skinny side fits between the wire and your teeth so you don’t have to “thread” your floss! And these little guys are essential to always have in your pocket in case you eat something and need to get food out on-the-go. I always carry a little baby bottle of mouthwash, too. If you don’t have one already, get an electric toothbrush - way easier to brush and get a good clean. Water flossers are wonderful to add to your normal flossing as well!!! I know this is a lot, don’t worry, they’ll go over everything with you at your appointment and should give you some of the little brushies at the very least but also some floss threaders and whatever else you may need to get started. :)

I have a lot of issues with tooth decay. Like when I go to the dentist what I typically hear is "everything looks really clean and you're doing a great job brushing and flossing BUT you have some cavities...." I also have a lot of spots where my teeth demineralize. So it's a constant struggle to keep the spots that have demineralized from turning into cavities. I also have bad dental anxiety and started seeing a dentist that does sedation dentistry.

For me I was able to get by with just nitrous oxide for most dental procedures (fillings and crowns) and I know some hospitals have started to allow nitrous oxide during labor so it seems safe to assume that isn't horrible for mom and baby. Maybe you could ask about that. It isn't as good for dental anxiety as being able to just to put out while they do whatever but it definitely helps take the edge off the anxiety, at least for me.

As to the pregnancy gingivitis: yep that's a thing and it sucks. My dentist recommended I get a waterpik flosser and start using it on a lower setting and then try to slowly build up to a higher setting as I was able. He also suggested putting a cap full of listerine or some other mouthwash into the tank with the water and flossing with that. Apparently that helps with the gingivitis. And I was instructed to call the office and make an appointment to go back in if the gingivitis started getting worse and I started seeing a lot of bleeding. Last year when I was having a lot of work done I had some spots where my gums were pretty swollen so they gave me a Chlorhexidine mouthwash to use with the waterpik which really seemed to help.

But basically there are options! Just find a good dentist that offers some different options for sedation dentistry that you trust and discuss it all with him/her. Different dentists will have different things they're comfortable with doing while a woman is pregnant. Like, for example, my previous dentist wouldn't do any x-rays at all during any point of a pregnancy. My current dentist will do some x-rays during the later part of the 2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester. So I'd assume the same general willingness to take certain risks would carry over to things like sedation. Some dentists will probably give you some options that others maybe wouldn't.

Hopefully you find something that works for you and you're able to get everything taken care of!

TOOTHBRUSH

This is the electric toothbrush I use and recommend: Sonicare Flex Care Plus. It is cheapest at Costco but comes in a pack of 2. It's important to replace the brush head every 3-4 months. Sonicare now has a subscription service to automatically send you a new brush head when it's time to replace, or you can buy the brush heads when you need them; they come out to approx $9 each on amazon but you can get 6 for $50 at Costco and they oftentimes have a $10 instant rebate. If you need to use a manual toothbrush, I recommend the Nimbus manual toothbrush. These Wisps are really handy when you can't brush after eating.  

FLOSS

The floss I recommend is Dr. Tung's Smart Floss and you can use this  Floss Holder to make it easier to use. (Amazon only sells the floss in packs of 3 or 6 so if you want to purchase a single pack you can find it at Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, or Sprouts.) A Waterpik can also be a great tool, this one is a Handheld Waterpik and is more convenient to use. You can use it in the shower and it takes up less counter space. 

TOOTHPASTE/MOUTHWASH

This Crest Gum and Sensitivity  paste is one of my favorites and I like Act Total Care mouthwash. When choosing a toothpaste or mouthwash, look for "sodium fluoride" as an active ingredient.  It's best to stay away from mouthwashes with alcohol in them and whitening/charcoal pastes because the abrasives in them can damage the teeth. If you use a whitening rinse with hydrogen peroxide, only use it 2-3 times per week to avoid making the gum tissue sensitive. Other than that, whatever you prefer is just fine.

WHITENING

For an inexpensive whitening treatment Crest White Strips are a good option.

Waterpiks are excellent for cleaning deeper pockets. However, I understand the frustration of the mess. What I found that works great is getting a travel size water pick like this one and using it in the shower instead of the sink, kinda like that new shower tool. Keeping a mirror hung or suctioned to the shower wall can help with controlling the tip to follow along the gum line. There are also floss holders like this that help with dexterity. Electric toothbrushes are a total game changer too. They really help take most of the work out of brushing and have been consistantly proven to be more effective than a manual toothbrush. Tongue scrapers are AMAZING. They reduce the number of bacteria for plaque formation, reduce mouth odors, and show improvements for dry mouth, coated tongue, fissured tongue, or patients who use tobacco. I have found with my own experience that this type works the best for my patients. But you can find what works best for you personally, there are many different types out there. Hopefully this helped!

I went last year for the first time since about 2002. To put it lightly, I was scared.

It turns out that my fear of dentists for the previous 16 years was a solid and effective motivator for me to take very good care of my teeth. No cavities. I waited until AFTER the cleaning to tell them how long it had been, and they said it looked like I had been getting cleanings every 6 months. Now, whenever I go in every 6 months, they tell me I consistently have the cleanest teeth of any of their clients (maybe they are lying to make me feel good).

My regimen for the last 17 years:

• Floss, tongue scraper, mouthwash, then brush (in this order). Morning and night.
  
• Mouthwash after eating something messy or drinking something acidic or sugary.
  
• Do NOT Rinse after brushing or you'll wash away all the flouride and it won't have a chance to soak in.
  
• I use Sensodyne with Novamin. You have to order it from canada or the UK. If you can't get it, your dentist can prescribe you 3M Clin-pro which is almost as good.
  
• 3-4 times a week I use a waterpik and make sure I irrigate the gumline (front and back of teeth)
  
• I use an electric toothbrush like this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077Y79R9T/ref=dp_prsubs_2) I had a Sonicare, but felt that it did not work as well as the Oral-B. I also use the "Floss Action" brush heads that have little soft plastic paddles in them besides the actual bristles
  
  Also, I see a LOT of people brushing only the tops of their teeth. You need to brush the tops, AND the front and back. Spend extra time in the back by your wisdom teeth, as this is the place most people have problems.
  
  I know some people will say not to use a tongue scraper every day. I suppose if your using it like you're trying to scrape paint, that might not be a good idea. Orabrush makes a soft one with little bristles on it. It's a lot less harsh than the rigid plastic ones, I wouldn't use one of those every day. Here's the one I use:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Orabrush-Tongue-Cleaner-Breath-Scrapers/dp/B0045IZ9Z4/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=tongue+cleaner&qid=1574096940&s=hpc&sr=1-8
  
  And for flossing:
  https://www.amazon.com/Listerine-UltraClean-Access-Flosser-Refill/dp/B00QSNP80U/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=flosser&qid=1574096991&s=hpc&sr=1-8
  
  Mouthwash:
  https://www.amazon.com/Listerine-Antiseptic-Mouthwash-Cool-Mint/dp/B01FXMLU6C/ref=pd_sbs_121_1/142-7631324-3304853?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01FXMLU6C&pd_rd_r=2c73adbb-da2f-4077-bf0c-5d8a49d90044&pd_rd_w=Hyy7D&pd_rd_wg=s2Xrc&pf_rd_p=52b7592c-2dc9-4ac6-84d4-4bda6360045e&pf_rd_r=RFBS5QWRRTDGC9KCX32M&psc=1&refRID=RFBS5QWRRTDGC9KCX32M
  
  Yeah, I know, it has alcohol, and it doesn't have fluoride. I found that non-alcohol mouthwashes don't seem to work very well. And, I don't need fluoride from my mouthwash since I brush immediately after the mouthwash. Also, this particular listerine has some extra chemicals in them to help loosen food and stuff, which their fluoride version does NOT have.
  
  Edit: On the Novamin toothpaste... It was available in the US back in like 2007 or so. It got pulled from the market because of patent or licensing issues or something. Countries with bad teeth stereotypes can now buy this stuff over the counter and have overall better dental health than americans now. If you search around, you can find companies that will sell it to you and ship it to the US. The 3M Clin-pro stuff is the only "legal" choice here, but it requires a prescription, and the dentist will probably charge you $40 a tube for it. There is also this stuff:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Apagard-Premio-toothpaste-nanohydroxyapatite-remineralizing/dp/B0016GCZSC/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2NRDCT9IY50MV&keywords=primo+toothpaste&qid=1574097773&s=hpc&sprefix=primo+tooth%2Chpc%2C166&sr=1-7
  
  There are some NIH articles on tests of this stuff, and it appears to be as good or even better than Novamin. I have some. I asked my dentist about it, and he recommends it to people who think that fluoride is a mind control agent and won't use fluoride toothpaste. He has only started recommending it, so he didn't have feedback on how well it worked. Sometimes I switch it up and use this for a week or so.

Lucy is 7 years old and her teeth were half covered with hardened plaque and this brand did a great job. I used a very soft human toothbrush and I also used a human tartar scraper. She is the most patient, trusting and understanding dog in the world to let me do this. Her breath was getting foul and gums were reddened so I spoke to a vet and began this routine. We do it daily or every other day if we forget.

This brand works so good. I saw instant results! This photo is the title is what he teeth looked like after a week of brushing.

I didn't take a before photo but it was exactly to this level :

http://www.dogscatspets.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/tartar.jpg

She lays down and I dampen the toothbrush, apply the paste and brush the outside of her teeth one side of her mouth at a time. There's a lot of licking bc this poultry toothpaste apparently tastes the bomb.

If I can get to the inside of the teeth I do that too. Then I use the tartar scraper (not recommended as a DIY unless you have a very steady hand and your dog allows it). Scrape the tartar only and eventually it'll come off in flakes!

Then brush that side one more time.

Then she rolls over to the other side and we repeat.

No more red gums, no more stank breath. She loves the flavor and gets a treat afterwards.

Happy dog. ♥ 🐶
__

The toothpaste (we use poultry flavor but I'm going to try vanilla mint when we run out to give a fresher smell) :

https://www.amazon.com/Vibra-CET-Enzymatic-Toothpaste-Vanilla-Mint/dp/B004ULYZ5Q


The toothbrush we use has very soft bristles and a rubber rippled back:

https://www.net32.com/media/shared/common/mp/dental-elite/dental-elite/media/toothbrush-836-1.jpg

The tartar scraper:

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Scraper-Stainless-Instrument-Perfect/dp/B01M6CTJ4T

First off, you are missing the next two pages in the book.

Second, at least one of the authors is a Redditor

Third, as a dental student, I am loving the Pro-Floss replies going on in this 'thread' (and the dental puns, totally going to use those regularly)

Lastly, as Diskroll said, cavities very often form in between teeth. Brushing your teeth cleans the tops (occlusal), the cheek/lip side (buccal/facial) and the tongue side (lingual), but only floss can clean between teeth (interproximal). Flossing can add years to your life, can help prevent other more systemic problems, and obviously greatly reduce the amount of excessive and expensive dental work you'll need in life. Plus you have a better chance of keeping all your own teeth.

It's a tough habit to start, but once you get started, you'll notice the difference. The trick I've been telling my patients, and what got me to be a better flosser, is to leave a pack by your desk, and use it while you're watching a video, or doing something else where you are just sitting around.

ninja_chinchilla said his her floss was ripping on his her back teeth(due to tight contacts, which is not necessarily a bad thing) - Get waxed floss, ~~that will definitely help. Also, for anyone with braces, or a permanent retainer (lingual bar) I highly recommend Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Threader (you can save the S&H if you pick them up at CVS/Wallgreens/ any other drugstore/supermarket/ place that sells dental stuff)

TL;DR: Floss your teeth.

Just a tip. If you buy one which requires a powerpoint and it has a reservoir it can be a real hassle, especially if you run out of water. I have a shower head style water flosser of this design (I'd expect that the shower head version would be inaccessible...) which runs on mains pressure, is easy to install, and does not need any inputs or fussing around that some of the more expensive models do.

This might be ideal for you if you have issues with muscle strength or dexterity in your arms because you don't need to hold down a button and, frankly, you can take as long as you damn well please without having to worry about topping up a bulky and cumbersome reservoir.

So as for the toothbrush you are using, is it a sonic toothbrush or one of the older styles of toothbrush which has a mechanical, rotating head?

I used to have a rotating head electric toothbrush but I changed over to a sonic one a couple of years back. There is less mechanical noise and less rumbling with a sonic one, although that's traded for a higher pitch vibration something akin to a good quality bullet vibrator (if you'll excuse the comparison; it's honestly the closest thing to a sonic toothbrush.) I'm not sure if that would be better or easier for you...

Edit: P.S. use chewing gum regularly on no-brush days, and have you ever considered using a dampened soft cotton cloth with toothpaste applied to it to gently scrub your teeth as an alternative?

Just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents. Antlers (many are vegan provided they are found after being naturally shed, and not farmed) and dental chews (Natural Balance Fresh & Clean is vegan) help a bit in cleaning a dog’s teeth, but tartar still seems to build up over time in my experience.

One thing I’ve found that really helps is gentling scaling my dog’s teeth myself. I know it sounds scary, but it’s actually pretty straight forward. I also don’t have to put my pupper under to clean his teeth this way, which is a huge plus in my book.

I boughtthis dental tool on Amazon and followed the instructions on this video , and this video. The first link was helpful for understanding the concept, but the second video more clearly shows what you need to do.

After reading an AMA a while ago about a young guy with really horrible teeth who was recommending to all readers to take special care of their teeth, several commenters recommended a water-pik to help him improve his teeth.

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-WP-100W-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299561449&sr=8-1

I immediately bought one as a "finished with braces" reward (I got the braces free via tutoring) and because I have a permanent retainer so flossing was too difficult to bother with (bad idea). And this thing is fabulous! It has several different heads to take care of any need. I enjoy using it and highly recommend it. It's probably not a substitute for regular dental care, but I'm sure anything that cleans your teeth and gums really well helps. Plus, the things you describe having bought to supplement a regular dental appointment sound very similar to this.

I have been there. Since it's been 2.5 weeks, I'd say you're clear for any socket issues. I actually went out to Walmart and bought a DenTek tooth scraping kit... it was $5-7 at the time but it had some plastic scraping tools and gum stimulators inside. The rubber/plastic tips are spiky and perfect for gently poking things out of the holes. Then, flush. Also, a wash bottle is great, too but be careful with how much pressure you can stand. They just flush away :D

Here's some links to what these products look like. Should be able to find similar in a local big box retailer. Also, be very careful if you get the Dentek Kit. Home cleaning is great, but scraping can be damaging to your enamel & gums if you aren't sure what you're doing or how often to do it.

https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bottle-Squeeze-Medical-Tattoo/dp/B00WTHLR2M/ref=sr_1_3_acs_ac_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537011518&sr=8-3-acs&keywords=wash+bottle

https://www.amazon.com/Dentek-Professional-Removes-Contains-Stimulator/dp/B008YEMWOG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537011651&sr=8-1&keywords=dentek+tool+kit

this waterpik water flosser would improve my life by making my teeth clean and healthy! also, I see you have waterpik heads on your wish list and I think if you don't already own a sonicate toothbrush you should get one because they are CRAZY AMAZING! yay clean teeth :)

Sorry in advanced that this is so long! Tl;dr - your set up looks good overall.


Personally I would go with a cheaper compressor (One that has a tank) and spend the difference on a booth (You can get the exact same one as the Master Airbrush Brand on eBay for like $50 with the hose to blow out a window.) I went with this compressor. For one, it's cheaper, and two, it has a tank so it omits pulsing air. I ran into that problem with my old compressor. This will cause uneven spraying out of the airbrush. I'm sure for most people it's not a problem, and I know many that have that exact compressor you listed and like it. So ultimately, that's your decision. The downside to the compressor I listed is that you will need to get a hose, and adapters. I also bought another moisture trap for mine that has a regulator on it which required an extension piece I got from Lowe's. Another plus side to the compressor i have is that I can use it for other things too if needed like blowing up giant pool floaties and it's strong enough to put air in a car tire if I ever had to. It's fairly quiet and has an auto off switch, I live in an apartment and have never had any neighbors complain about it.


The cleaning kit, you'll need q-tips, microfiber pipe cleaners suited to clean out tobacco pipes, and dental picks like these. I bought the Iwata cleaning kit and those were the only two things I used from it. Waste of money imo. The cleaning solutions depends on what kind of paints you're using. I just use paint thinner for the most part because I already have to buy a bunch, not really gonna hurt to buy more to use it for cleaning my airbrush. But again, that's your decision. Also get some airbrush lube. I recommend Paasche lube because it doesn't gunk up and is a bit thinner than the iwata stuff. In total, I spent about $220 on my entire airbrush set up and I'm quite happy with it.


Ultimately, you go with what you want/like/budget. I'm sure you'll like the set up you have listed if you go with that, I just had to be pretty frugal about what I bought and what I needed, but wanted the best bang for my buck so I spent about 2 months researching the things I would need and want.

[Update]

Just lost a pants size which is awesome. I'll list what workout plan I do as well as what supplements, etc... I'm doing. Hope this helps! :D

[Workout]

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-eason-livefit-trainer.html

[Supplements]

• New Chapter Women's Vitamins (https://www.amazon.com/New-Chapter-Multivitamin-Probiotics-Ingredients/dp/B003DGZREM/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495242430&sr=8-6&keywords=new%2Bchapter&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
• New Chapter Fish Oil (https://www.amazon.com/New-Chapter-Wholemega-Supplement-Astaxanthin/dp/B002FU6I9K/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495242430&sr=8-2&keywords=new%2Bchapter&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
• Nature's Bounty Calcium 1200mg Plus 1000IU Vitamin D3 100 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009MHV3VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1): one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  
  
• Doctor's Best High Potency Serrapeptase (): take this before you workout at the gym and also ensure it's been 1-2 hours since your last meal. This Supplement is all natural pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory so you don't have to rely on pain relievers like Aleve, Tylenol, Motrin...etc.
  
  
  
• Puritan's Pride Glucosamine Sulfate 1000 mg-240 Capsules (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004R64Q12/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1): This is for joint health and you take one in the morning and one before a work out
  
  [Protein Powder]
  
  
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Naturally Flavored Vanilla (https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Flavored/dp/B00QQA0H3S/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495243114&sr=8-4&keywords=optimum+nutrition+natural): Take after workout
  
  
• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Naturally Flavored Chocolate (https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Naturally-Chocolate/dp/B00QQA0GSY/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495243114&sr=8-3&keywords=optimum+nutrition+natural): Take after workout
  

I had all four wisdom teeth and two second molars removed this past July. Here are my tips -

• There is going to be a lot blood the first day or two, so keep plenty of gauze handy.
  
• Once the bleeding has slowed down (after a day or so) start rinsing your mouth with salt water after every meal. This helps keep things clean and is supposed to help the healing process.
  
• Pudding is fucking awesome
  
• Once the stitches dissolve, you are going to have large holes where your teeth were; these will take a long time to heal. They will become problematic once you starting eating solid food again. Avoid eating things like peanuts and almonds for about a month. They will get stuck in the holes, and getting them out is not fun. Your oral surgeon should give you something like this to help clean things, buy one if he doesn't.
  

Hah, yep, if you're pushing paint out, it's definitely the nozzle. Good, easy to fix.

First off, stop trying to shove the airbrush needle through there! Those things are precision engineered and delicate. Trying to shove it through a blockage is the easiest way to bend the needle :D

Cleaning the nozzle - it's easy on an eclipse. Drop a few drops of airbrush cleaner into the wide end, let it sit for a minute or two. Scrub with a cleaning brush. It's easy enough, but go slowly - sounds like you've got a lot of paint buildup.

I prefer to use interdental cleaners for the airbrush, they're designed to get into very tight spaces. These things:
https://www.amazon.com/DenTek-Professional-Interdental-Cleaners-Mouthwash/dp/B009MHV3VW/ref=pd_sim_194_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B009MHV3VW&pd_rd_r=15TD2C8VSSZN109M61BP&pd_rd_w=7q95v&pd_rd_wg=gsx6U&refRID=15TD2C8VSSZN109M61BP&th=1

A cleaning brush won't fit through the .3MM nozzle completely though. Use a regular needle or plastic toothpick for that, and just be careful not to scratch the inside of the nozzle if you're using a sharp needle.

Alternate cleaning the inside and flushing it with water and airbrush cleaner until it's fully clear and you can get water through it without sputtering.

One more trick you can try, if you've got an annoying paint booger stuck in there - hold the nozzle directly over the part where the air comes out and blast air directly through the small end at high pressure (30+PSI). It can blow out the offending paint.

How to prevent paint buildup in the nozzle in the future: In most cases you don't need to remove the nozzle for standard cleaning. Just pulling the needle and flushing airbrush cleaner through it is fine. However, any time you're spraying varnish, you're going to want to do a breakdown of the brush and carefully clean each part individually. If you're putting the brush away into storage for a while, it's a good idea to do a deep clean then too.

I do NOT recommend soaking the brush or parts in airbrush cleaner or an ultrasonic cleaner. That might work for cheap-o ebay brushes but it will damage an Iwata over time.

The best thing I ever got for my gum health was a WaterPik Water Flosser. I use it once a day, takes less than 2 minutes. Use warm water and it feels real good, your gums need to get used to it, you can set the pressure so that you can start low and as your gums improve you can increase it over time so your gums don't hurt too much when you start out.

It not only cleans off plaque and food particles, the water action massages your gums, improves the blood flow and keeps them tight and healthy. Also, look into oral probiotics to get you healing up faster.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Flosser-Electric-Countertop-Irrigator/dp/B00HFQQ0VU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=water%2Bflosser&qid=1566832430&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWTdOMk84QVoxRERVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjEyMTIzMTA1TFRaOU9DNDFCWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTU2MzU1M09aQllPV0NZMkxHNCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

Basically a water flosser is something that sprays a high-pressure jet of water at your teeth and the water works its way into your gums(like how you're supposed to do when you floss) and pulls anything that might be trapped out. Dentists for years were super resistant to them because they weren't very good but these days they actually recommend them as being just about as good as really flossing

This is the model i have -> https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Flosser-Electric-Countertop-Irrigator/dp/B00HFQQ0VU/

I went a little overboard and got the best model I could. My dentist recommended me to use things with the ADA seal which oddly seem to be only waterpik brand flossers but...eh, they're at least scientifically verified!

I have been looking for a nice dental set for a while around here and can never find anything so I have this set on my add-on wishlist.

I've never been on a plane before but I hope on my very first flight that I don't overhear someone say "I don't know, fly casual."

Thanks for the contest :)

It works well for me, and I'd recommend buying something like these guys if you have tonsil stones. It takes a bit of practice to use them without hurting yourself (it's very easy to gag on the water if you're not tilting your head forward, you can stab yourself very easily, etc), but if you're able to very gently ease the syringe tip into the difference crevices of the tonsil, it's incredibly easy to flush out your tonsils and get all the little bits of tonsil stones hiding away in there. And that way, you don't have to wait for them to get big enough to fall out on their own.

This is essentially the product, but I got six of them for like $5. Sometimes you have to search a bit for a deal. Basically you want an oral syringe. I hope this helps. When I got comfortable with this method I've never looked back.
http://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Care-Dental-Irrigating-Syringe/dp/B000FQ5N1A/ref=sr_1_47_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458039693&sr=8-47&keywords=oral+syringe

Thanks for showing such an awesome interest in this thread. Quick question for you, if you don't mind.

I've been using one of these for years now. I gag myself everytime I try to use "traditional" floss. Is this thing just as good? I saw you mentioned getting the side of the teeth and stuff, and I don't know if I'm doing that as well with this.

Thanks a ton if you get a minute to answer!

I recommend this one (not referral link): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GLRREU/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have been using it for the past few months and am very happy with it. The pressure is far more than adequate, holds enough water to do a full wash, and very easy to clean.

Hmmm. Let's see ...

• I have this soldering iron. - The variable temperature setting is a plus.
  
  
• A soldering tip cleaner is a must - When soldering, torched residue builds up quickly.
  
  
• If you plan on biverting a DMG, you'll definitely need some desoldering wick. - The pump is a bonus. It's really useful if you ever have to cleanly remove a component from a board.
  
  
• If you plan on biverting a DMG, you'll need to lift 2 pins (after removing some solder). The easiest way to do this is with a dental pick.
  
  
• If you're near a Walmart, their house brand ("Hyper Tough") sells a VERY good precision screwdriver kit. - I'm not exactly sure if this is the right one, but it looks JUST like this in-stores. It's only $6 and comes with all of the necessary "Y" tips to open a Gameboy, GB Pocket, GB Advance, etc.

I just bought one of these Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser. It came in yesterday.

It's not a replacement for brushing, it is supposed to replace flossing... certainly it will help, and so far it seems pretty awesome.

Congratulations dude. I'm going on 24 hours here right now and it's pretty crazy. Drink lots of water, try to keep your mouth feeling fresh and clean.

Buy these too. They're helping me a ton

Good luck, I hope they work for you! They're also really inexpensive :)

Actually do not get those little plastic bottles I linked before =/. I ordered them and got them the other day with the idea to share samples of Floid Black (my fav aftershave) and Floid Blue. I just tried filling some up (using an oral irrigator which made a nice syringe) but with the caps screwed on they were not leak-proof. A few leaked just being held upside-down, others leaked if shaken. I just don't think they'd last being shipped through the mail.

Well I was going to go ahead and order a bottle of American Blend aftershave but it looks like you're sold out! I was planning on ordering some aftershave splash from TheShaveDen. I had some of their TSD Signature Scent (bay rum + bergamot) which I really liked but sold it off in a shave den clearance. Please drop me a PM when you get more of the American Blend listed on your Etsy store, thanks!

Very good! Here are 2 more suggestions for a real luxurious brush and dental hygiene.

A waterpick which you would use first to clean between your teeth and the gum line, then floss and brush. Its on sale now for $23 shipped.

https://www.amazon.com/ToiletTree-Products-Irrigator-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B00OQFH0OY

Sensodyne has a great new toothpaste out - i love it. I get it for $4 at walmart

https://www.amazon.com/Sensodyne-Pronamel-Intensive-Toothpaste-Strengthening/dp/B07K15VPD4

Do you need these 2 things? Not at all - but they help out a lot.

I own what's called a "water flosser" and is also called an "oral irrigator". The most well-known brand is Waterpik, but I own one from Panasonic, and it's the best thing in the whole world. It can actually knock popcorn husks from out between your teeth and your gums, so if you can imagine eating a giant bucket of popcorn and three minutes later not having any popcorn husks stuck in your gums it's pretty nice. If you get other stuff stuck in your teeth it can knock that out, too.

They're $30 on Amazon. They're also portable, so you can travel with them. I keep one at home and one in my office.

Sonicare changed my life. It does cost, but for me it's either pay that or pay for an extra annual cleaning at the dentist. (Edit here: why is it good? Besides the sonic science thing? It times your brushing, so you do the full 2 minutes recommended. It can even beep when it's time to move from one quadrant of your mouth to another. Brilliant. Tip: change heads every 3 months or you lose effectiveness.)

Not a fan of flossing because of the wrapping string around the finger and contort to floss deal, but then I got hip to these babies: http://www.amazon.com/Reach-Access-Flosser-Colors-Vary/dp/B0017TU2HE . You have a toothbrush-like handle and you pop on a fresh u-shaped head with a bit of floss strung between. They're like Plackers, but I keep it next to my toothbrush so I remember.

Tonsilliths are probably a big problem, especially if you have a lot of sinus and drainage issues or consume a lot of dairy. Go YouTube tonsil stones and have a world of fun.

Not a fan of Listerine. If I wanted mouth burn, I'd drink cheap shit. There are gentler option out there with aloe Vera or hydrogen peroxide for whitening.

And I get the lazy brushing thing, but you feel better when you do it, right?

A floss handle may help you clean your wisdom teeth. This one is a good example: (http://www.amazon.com/Reach-Access-Flosser/dp/B0017TU2HE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345718456&sr=8-1&keywords=reach+floss+handle)

LOL oof, yeah you’re gonna want to get one that has a more controllable pressure. I use an older version of this one , which has an adjustable knob from 1-10. I use it on either one or two and it does just the trick. It never feels too harsh when working back there. Only for extended periods of time does it get slightly annoying, but that goes for qtips as well in my experience. It also works very well as a flossing alternative. It’s also a bit pricey tho. Hope this helps!

> . A lot of investors making some pretty dicey bets though considering this product already has a pretty established market. Just buy one on Amazon...

What did you base this claim on, then? What established market?

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-EW-DJ10-Irrigator-Collapsible-Waterproof/dp/B0027LSEPS this is a pretty small travel water flosser, has a 5.5oz water tank compared to the 2oz in this kickstarter. Half-third the size? I am backing. If it works, I am a happy camper, if not, oh well.

That is a relatively easy fix. Follow this knot tutorial to make sure the knot is big enough. If you have trouble re-threading the string, using dental floss threaders like these helps. Good luck

I like these, personally but /u/NuclearBitch prefers these.

Good luck!

Hi, I also grind my teeth mostly when I'm sleeping. I started noticing tooth damage so went searching for a mouth guard to use while sleeping. I use Doctor's Nightguard Advanced Comfort, 1 Box by The Doctor's every night and it works well. I followed the instructions that it came with and it fits my mouth perfectly. I can open my mouth and talk without it falling out or moving.

I've been using it for 3 months now and its holding up well, it does have some damage from my grinding but looks like it will last 6+ months or more. Try it out. I might have a small mouth but it does keep my mouth open while I sleep but using a humidifier in the room has helped with any dry mouth at night.

I hope it works for you!

1. Lumo Lift Posture Coach and Activity Tracker It lets you know when you're slouching and a sensor vibrates remind you to sit straight and stand tall. I have horrible posture and I really think it's to blame for my neck and back pain. For those of us on the computer a lot, I think this will help! $78.99 (I can dream WL)
   
   
2. Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser (WP-660C) because it's so much better than regular flossing! Overwhelmingly positive reviews and with multiple heads for massaging and flossing. Gets into hard to reach areas and the pressure water helps break built up plaque easier than regular flossing. Promises to leave your mouth feeling fresh. 79.99 (I can dream WL)
   
   
3. Thinks Geek Plush Skull Slippers because they're so cute and soft! And the reviews are positive. $9.95 (default WL)
   
   
   
   

Is there any recommended alternative to flossing that is nearly as effective or better?
Would you consider this, for example, as a good investment?

I'm using Oral-B glide threader floss: https://www.amazon.com/Oral-B-Glide-Pro-Health-Threader-Floss/dp/B000GGJCDY/

This is the best for me so far. Waterpik is good and useful, however it can't replace flossing.

Is it the same as this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Complete-Flosser-Toothbrush-WP-900/dp/B0095IMNI0/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483465580&sr=8-2&keywords=Waterpik+2-in-1+Water+Flosser+and+Sonic+Toothbrush

If so, it looks like it has great reviews on Amazon. I'm just not sure if it's the same model because it's almost double the price compared to the Target link you shared.

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Aquarius-Water-Flosser-WP-660/dp/B00HFQQ0VU

The water runs out pretty quick when the reservoir is directly attached, so this one might be good! Cheers!

Nice cleaner! I picked up a VPI machine earlier this month and found for small batches a dental syringe works well https://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Care-Dental-Irrigating-Syringe/dp/B000FQ5N1A but for larger cleaning jobs and fluid storage these work great https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Liquid-Storage-Squeeze-Bottle/dp/B016DDJPKS

Yes, if you like that you should get a WaterPik , you would love it

I got tired of hearing this but I hated flossing unless I was using these. They were still too manual for my liking so I look up "power flosser" on Amazon and wound up buying a Waterpik. At my next appointment (after using the Waterpik regularly) the dentist said that my oral health improved by a large margin.

Is there a point to me posting this? Probably not...

My teeth are very close together, so I don't floss. I was tired of my dentist kvetching, so I asked about a water pik, and she said it wasn't a replacement to flossing, but was much better then nothing.
Did some research, decided I didn't want to deal with the noise, or having to fill it up. So I got this thing:
http://amzn.com/B000H68J2S
Basically, it attaches to your sink, and you are good to go. So far, so good. I have been doing it twice a day!

That sucks.

What tools do you have available? A dental pick or scraper is going to be your best bet if you're determined to bend it back into shape. But most people won't just have one on hand.

Alternatively, a new 72-pin connector is usually about $10. So even if you can't fix it, it's not an expensive mistake.

$150? A waterpik is like $40.

Edit: Turns out that was a pretty good guess

There will be a socket left where the tooth used to be, but the surgeon will stich your gums over it so once it heals you won't be able to tell a tooth used to be there.

To clean your sockets, put some salt water into an irrigation syringe and flush them out. It actually feels quite good.

Heya, my previous dentist (Sparkle Dental at Novena) charges around there or slightly cheaper depending on the material used so I was thinking of going back to him, just that his waiting list is a few months long :(

anyway glad to hear you got yours sorted! I still find $500 pretty steep for something I'm going to end up chewing away. A friend of mine helped me find this which I'll try in the meantime: http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-NightGuard-Advanced-Protector-Grinding/dp/B0036WTV2C
Not sure if it's any good, but I plan to try it while I'm on the waitlist for my dentist :)

I love water flossing and I will never go back to using string.

I was not a flosser -- now I floss every day. Easy, simple, enjoyable. Should have invested in a water flosser years ago.

Compared to string flossing, the water gets more gunk out, too.

I have this model but I would go with a Water Pik or Hydro Floss next time. The one I have has one design flaw: the tip where the water comes out isn't slightly pointed so it is difficult to point the stream directly between teeth. The tip is flat. Other than that, it's a great product.

I saw this on /r/TheBestOfAmazon, been considering purchasing it...not sure if I can trust myself to use it everyday though lol

http://amzn.com/B000GLRREU Your new best friend.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQFH0OY/ref=sspa_mw_detail_2?psc=1

Have had one of these for 2 years, still going strong. Was looking for the same things as you, with the emphasis on the smaller footprint. Impressed with the battery life and my wife uses it as well. We’ll leave it off the charger for a couple weeks at a time. Its cheap enough you could get a second one if you wanted.

i chewed on herbal flavored toothpicks for the first couple of days whenever I had a craving or I thought i needed to satisfy my oral fixation.

Used these ones in particular since they were meant for chewing and had a great mint taste.

http://www.amazon.com/Thursday-Plantation-Original-Chewing-Sticks/dp/B000JI521U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407424018&sr=8-1&keywords=tea+tree+toothpicks

Here it is on Amazon. Got mine this Prime Day and I love it. Never was a big flosser to begin with as I found it hard to shove my hands in my mouth so this is awesome. It's neat seeing particles and what not fall into the sink as it runs!

It is a lot easier to find the motivation to floss if you get yourself a Reach Access Flosser. It is much easier than sticking your hands in your mouth to floss.

Buy a Waterpik . It's expensive, but it'll be one of the best investments. I used to get them all the time, but a couple cleanings from the waterpik and I don't get them anymore. Just make sure it's set to mid-low pressure.

I had this problem when I had my wisdom teeth removed a few years ago. Using a dental pick, I was able to remove the food quite easily. You can buy one on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Dentek-Professional-Oral-Care-Count/dp/B008YEMWOG

I can’t use those style. They push against my side lip which causes them to get stuck, plus the floss always snaps. I prefer this style of flosser but the floss they have on it is so skinny it’s semi worthless as well. So if you come up with this version with the added extra floss feeding through like the highest comment it would be friggen amazing

One of the best things I ever did for myself was buying a Waterpik combination water flosser and sonic toothbrush set.

It feels like having my teeth professionally cleaned every day.

---
EDIT: Since people have been asking me, this is the model I bought.

---

Wisdom. I do all of this, and my teeth feel the great. If you shop around you can get good deals:
Oral B electric Brush for $29: http://www.amazon.com/Professional-1000-Electric-Rechargeable-Toothbrush/dp/B003UKM9CO/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1324575162&sr=1-2
WaterPik for $49 (Deals are fairly well, but you can sometimes find $10 rebates): http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-WP-100W-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324575352&sr=8-1

waterpik cordless freedom

This is the one I bought. It’s listed on Amazon right now at $35.98. Do yourself a favor & buy a pack of AA batteries with it. It takes three to run it & they run out pretty quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095IMNI0/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1_s_it?pf_rd_p=9ddc66f6-9fc0-49ff-b2fa-06a39d9859e6&pd_rd_wg=lWtGz&pf_rd_r=J3DSN204TJP4PZKK5KSA&pd_rd_i=B0095IMNI0&pd_rd_w=EuxRQ&pd_rd_r=f5e81df5-ec15-4060-acab-6e3aa536c7c6&ie=UTF8&qid=1550343441&sr=1

I ordered this a few years back it's amazing would highly recommend

I've found that https://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-Single-Handle/dp/B000LC22R6 works well for me—I like the angle of the floss better than with disposable flossers (which your design seems to copy).

Even better LPT: This works wonders. It's shaped like a toothbrush but allows for easier access to the back teeth for flossing. http://www.amazon.com/Reach-Access-Flosser/dp/B0017TU2HE

Get yourself a tongue sweeper

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007R6L5E?pc_redir=1409586636&robot_redir=1

And a Quick Breeze if you don't floss regularly

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000H68J2S?pc_redir=1409144238&robot_redir=1


Your dentist and significant other will love you for it.

What are you thoughts on water flossers? I use mine once a day and it's definitely been effective at massaging gums enough so they don't bleed anymore when I brush. Do you have any patients who use them?

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-WP-100W-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1314758950&sr=1-1

cupcake picks

RT brush

zombie playing cards

bacon jerky for my fiancé

oral care kit

Those Himalaya's of the mind!

sure no problem. I bought one a few weeks back in preparation for my braces going on next week. Works fantastic.

I bought https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Complete-Flosser-Toothbrush-WP-900/dp/B0095IMNI0 so i got the toothbrush too. love them both.

I used to believe that too. Not anymore. In fact, it was recently given the ADA seal of acceptance for being able to prove it's as effective as floss. Also, here is another device with a full-size handle that you can wrap floss around. https://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-Assorted/dp/B00VQTRQ56

They're the same as the ones used to flush out your mouth after a wisdom tooth removal- we used something like these

I have this one and it's pretty amazing. The water pressure goes much higher than you would expect.

You can also try moving your jaw to the side you're trying to floss. It moves a structure called the coronoid process out of the way to create more "room" especially on the top teeth. A flosser like this used with regular floss can also help

I keep some of those in my car in just in case, but I have one of these at home. The floss going crosswise from the handle makes it a lot easier to reach the back, and I don't have to worry about how wasteful the single-use ones can be if you use them every day.

https://www.amazon.com/Listerine-UltraClean-Access-Flosser-Refill/dp/B00QSNP80U/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1542056091&sr=8-3&keywords=reach+flosser

To floss more effectively and with less effort, try this tool: https://www.amazon.com/Reach-9655-Access-Flosser/dp/B0017TU2HE?th=1

Available for like $3 at your local Walmart, Target, etc.

well, it isn't an athletic one, it's one specifically for bruxism. Like this. I did have bruxism and it did help. I'm sure yours is worse though since I only had mine for a (very emotionally rough) year.

so /u/kiteflyerkat

When are you going to invent a 'serum' that lets us regrow our teeth. Because I have a history of grinding my teeth and I would like to have normal teeth again... as in real teeth.

ON a side note, I chewed through two night guards that my dentist made. Apparetly wearing them were supposed to make me stop wanting to grind, but no, I just went right through both of them. Costs way too much and instead I get this thing

Those last a good while if kept and are much cheaper than the ones I was breaking. As in, the ones I was breaking were like 400 dollars.

Waterpik is awesome! So much faster than flossing.

If you're like me and can't be bothered to learn to finagle your fingers around in your mouth properly, at least pick up a Reach flosser. These things take all the hard parts out of flossing.

Probably not as effective as real flossing, according to my dentist, but a lot better than nothing

+1 to this. Those little syringes are amazing and get rid of stones quickly. You can get them cheap from Amazon, too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002OXEURA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1377395410&sr=8-3&pi=SL75

Yes, something like this

I've also seen them in drug stores.

(edited to fix link)

I really enjoy chewing on "Australian chewing sticks". Basically its a toothpick that was soaked in tea tree oil and other minty flavors.

Here is a link to them on amazon: Chewing sticks

Before ever considering surgery, I would recommend you give a Waterpik a shot and see if that helps clear out your tonsil stones. Just aim it (at the lowest pressure) at your tonsil crypts and you should see a bunch of tonsil stones come gushing out.

This is a great design for this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQTRQ56/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_ma-VDb2MPF1DB

Oral B makes a floss similar to Superfloss but it is the Glide floss. It has the waxed ends and is my favorite for overcrowding. https://www.amazon.com/Oral-B-Glide-Pro-Health-Threader-Floss/dp/B000GGJCDY
My teeth are too crowded and tight for the floss piks specifically made for braces and I also found SuperFloss to be too thick. Alternatively, there are plastic threaders you can use with your normal floss. It takes more time but works. https://www.amazon.com/GUM-Eez-Thru-Floss-Threaders-Each/dp/B000GGJCDO/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=plastic+floss+threader&qid=1555263723&s=beauty&sr=1-8

They are really neat! Highly recommendable!
But you should do a combination of both: Water floss and the regular floss.

Water floss: http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-WP-100-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377160260&sr=8-1&keywords=waterpik

I used popsicle sticks first, rough, would not recommend. Then an oral irrigator, but I moved and couldn't fit it on the new faucet. Then an electric jet, but it's really expensive and mine broke. Now I use these syringes, and they work as well as (maybe better than) the electric jet.

You can use them one-handed and hold a flashlight in your off-hand! Fill the syringe with water (optionally add mouth rinse) then hold the syringe with your thumb and pinky on the top of the barrel and your index finger on the end of the plunger. I may have monster hands, so you may not want to fill the syringe completely (so the plunger won't stick out as far).

Tl;dr? Buy these.

I have a portable battery operated one that even though it's not super tiny, it's smaller than most and does the job wonderfully. I take it with me whenever I go on vacation. Here's the Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027LSEPS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_QQTkDb76VXGJQ

There's floss holders you can get on amazon where you just wrap your floss around it. So you can reuse the stick! And it's really sturdy too.

Ninja edit: My husband has this one; it seems to work really well.

Super floss is a thicker piece of floss with one stiff end to get under wires/bridges. Floss threaders are plastic loops to help push (or thread!) floss under the wire.

I found a solution to the problem. Buy a narrow tip angled syringe like these: http://www.amazon.com/Watts-Syringe-Irrigators-Tapered-Bridges/dp/B002OXEURA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348098657&sr=8-1&keywords=syringe+angle

Fill a cup full of warm water with salt added to it. Fill the syringe with the water and gently irrigate your tonsils. Repeat as needed. The first couple times you might have to push out the stuff with a q-tip, then irrigate after. Eventually you can just irrigate and they should go away. After doing this and tongue scrapping, you will very rarely get bad breath at all. Even bad morning breath is reduce to almost nothing.

DIY Dental Care

http://www.amazon.com/Dentek-Professional-Oral-Care-Kit/dp/B008YEMWOG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417788410&sr=8-3&keywords=dental+tools

You’ve got a good routine. Keep that up.
If you want to add something - get a water flosser like this

Every night! Electric toothbrush also added to the regimen in the morning and night, I just use a regular toothbrush for my tongue.

After years of regular flossing, the gums never inflame or bleed with it, and dentist visits have been a breeze.

I use this flosser to make it easy:

https://www.amazon.com/Listerine-UltraClean-Access-Flosser-Refill/dp/B00QSNP80U

• plastic shopping bag
  dispenser
  
• laundry bag with a stand that turns it into a stand-up laundry
  hamper
  
• big reusable bag
  
• handle that makes it easier to carry a bunch of shopping
  bags (I guess bags
  are a theme here)
  
• countertop paper towel dispenser that lets you get a paper towel with one
  hand
  
• Reach Access
  Flosser (this
  changed my life!)

Try this. (Amazon link.) :)

This one is my fav by far, can't understand why many stores don't stock it (in my area at least):

https://amzn.com/B0017TU2HE

Here’s what I use. They have a threaded tip so they are easy to guide through brackets. I’ve found that I can’t fit the platypus flossers between my front six teeth and brackets, and having to thread floss onto a threader 92 times is annoying.

Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Threader Floss 30 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GGJCDY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YdhYDbNFS1W3Y

I actually use a syringe leftover from when I got my wisdom teeth removed. It's narrow enough to work and doesn't look like you're using drugs. It's called a Dental Syringe.

Ah ha! I see your floss problem & raise you a solution!

https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Accepted-WP-660-Aquarius-Flosser/dp/B00HFQQ0VU/ref=sr_1_3?crid=29OC3N0SU5A9A&keywords=waterpik%2Bwater%2Bflosser&qid=1563750515&s=gateway&sprefix=Waterpik%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-3&th=1

It is not unusual that one tooth was more difficult to remove than the other. This one had more trauma to the surrounding tissue and will heal slower. Don't worry.

Try a syringe like this to keep the area clean. Use it gently.
http://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Care-Dental-Irrigating-Syringe/dp/B000FQ5N1A/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415160261&sr=1-3&keywords=syringe+curved+tip

You should show them this alternative:
Flossaid Dental Floss Holder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQTRQ56?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
It's not 100% zero waste but at least it minimizes it and works just as well.

Never thought about getting one of those. I think I'll be picking up one of these now thanks to you.

Buy dental insurance (or a dental plan.) Then get yourself checked out. If your insurance doesn't cover everything you need, ask if you can set up a payment plan.

Either way, start working on your oral hygiene. Just because you go to the dentist once doesn't mean you can get away without brushing your teeth.

For this you should get a tongue scraper, brush 2-3 times a day, and swish your mouth with hydrogen peroxide (you can get a bottle for $1.) Flossing is also a good idea. If you can afford it, a Waterpik takes a lot of the hassle out of that.

I just got mine on mid-May prior to jaw surgery, and this definitely holds up. My orthodontist had a fancy contraption to hold my mouth open while they applied all the brackets that they didn't have the first two times I had braces. That definitely made the whole process much easier on my jaw.

I'd also add that during the first few weeks, those couple brackets you'll have on will chew up your gums a bit. Rinsing liberally with salt water (I make up a bottle that I keep handy) will help heal them faster. Put a bit of wax on the bracket right away. Once the spot is healed, stop using the wax so your gums can form a bit of a callous.

I would also just avoid the foods they tell you to avoid all together. You probably won't have the brackets on very long and it's just not worth it to lose a bracket over. I was informed at my last appointment that I'd lost one, and I'm on a liquid diet! It takes soooo long for them to put it back on that they just decided to wait until next time to put a new bracket on.

Watepiks are great for braces (the model I have comes with a tip for braces and has been on sale for under $50 frequently lately). Otherwise, you should use a threader to floss.

There are now way more options for brackets than there were years ago. There are traditional metal and ceramic braces that need rubber bands to ligate. But now there are also Damon brackets (which come in metal and clear versions) that self ligate. So no need for rubber bands or tightening (you still get wire changes), and your teeth move faster. The brackets themselves are also slightly smaller. They are so much better than the tradition brackets I had when I was younger. I've only had them for a few weeks and I can't believe how much teeth movement I've already had.

I can't speak from the position of a dentist because we haven't discussed accepted methods for removing them, but I can speak from personal experience. I get tonsilloliths and I have been removing them by irrigating the caverns in my tonsils with salt water. I have a ~$5 oral irrigating syringe that I fill with homemade salt water and it has worked well for me!

Yea electric brushes are great. A good way to tell if you're grinding too much is if you're jaw muscles are sore in the am, or have a headache. The night guards they make in the office are expensive but are usually partly covered by insurance. You can grab a decent over the counter guard One specific one is called the doctors night guard. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036WTV2C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486737186&sr=8-1&keywords=doctors+night+guard

Yes. http://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-ONE/dp/B000LC22R6

Here is the one i have, if it helps.

I use one of these and it helps immensely.

I like this type. Floss holders.

This lets you use regular floss; you just tear off some floss and wrap it around the fork.

Actually, I found something exactly like I was talking about. Maybe I'll have to buy one:

http://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder/dp/B000LC22R6/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1239596824&sr=1-28

Use something like this https://www.amazon.com/Reach-9655-Access-Flosser/dp/B0017TU2HE?th=1

I had severe halitosis for years. It was really, really bad.

After years of trying various products and techniques, and figuring out that many toothpastes and mouthwash products can actually make things worse, this is what worked for me:

• Floss with a Reach brand flosser. This is much easier than the strings, so I actually do it.
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017TU2HE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0017TU2HE&linkCode=as2&tag=pip01-20
  
  
• Brush with Therabreath brand toothpaste (this took me years to figure out) and an electric toothbrush. Drawback: The electric toothbrush replacement heads are expensive, but they don't need to be replaced too often so ...
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET7G9E/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001ET7G9E&linkCode=as2&tag=pip01-20
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007ZN5ATQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007ZN5ATQ&linkCode=as2&tag=pip01-20
  
  
• Brush tongue, then gently scrape with this:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RCLWKI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000RCLWKI&linkCode=as2&tag=pip01-20
  
  
• Use Therabreath mouthwash:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET76AI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001ET76AI&linkCode=as2&tag=pip01-20
  
  Following that regime twice a day has completely solved my problem.

Just buy these, here's what I posted elsewhere that I think you might like to see.

> Order these now.

>Mine just came in the mail and I used them tonight. They are fucking brilliant. As someone who has a sensitive gag reflex and found difficulty using qtips, I was able to easily shoot out all of the tonsil stones even the one that was deep that I couldn't see very well.

I was able to get one custom made, but my dentist said that if I couldn't, the one I should get is Doctor's NightGuard. http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-NightGuard-Advanced-Protector-Grinding/dp/B0036WTV2C The amazon reviews are less than positive, so take her recommendation with a grain of salt, but I thought I'd add what little I know about the topic. (She said that the material of some other night guards is kind of fun to chew on or gnaw at and makes the problem worse, but this one isn't that way--it's just like chewing on really hard plastic, so it doesn't reinforce the grinding tendencies while you're wearing it.)

Also, Inter-dental brushes can be a better method of cleaning between your teeth when floss may miss or impact extra goodies.

Try using one of these http://www.amazon.com/Reach-Access-Flosser/dp/B0017TU2HE
I don't an issue with the hands-in-the-mouth thing, but I've heard these can be amazing for peoples with these troubles.

http://amzn.com/B002OXEURA

Yep. I have them on the way right now for this very reason.

You get them to drink a small amount of hydrogen peroxide - it hits their stomach, reacts and foams up, causing them to empty their stomachs. From what I've been told, you have about 20 minutes from the time the dog eats whatever it is before it starts working its way down the tubes.

Our dog, Texas, is a half mini-dachshund, half-minpin brat who likes to eat stuff. On a few occasions, when he found a pair of my wife's underwear and tore them up, (I know, gross) we've had to give him some peroxide to get them to throw the fabric back up. Getting him to open his mouth was a chore, so we ended up using a dental syringe because it's got a curved tip which slides right between his teeth and squirts the peroxide right down his throat. We usually use 3-5 ccs of peroxide.

A word of warning, here - the fuller the stomach, the less peroxide you need. And as mentioned above, it works, and it works fast. Texas tries to resist it at first, and you can see him concentrating on not puking, but within a minute he's emptying his stomach. We always give him a piece of bread after he's done so that he doesn't have an empty stomach.

As for doing it outside, I disagree - I'd rather do it inside so you can clean it up and make sure you got the offending material the dog ate. The puking never lasts long, as long as you don't use too much peroxide. We do it in small doses, and if the first squirt doesn't work, we give him a little more. Rubbing and jiggling his belly helps move the progress along too.

They do make that! I just got one. Here is the link someone else just posted.

Heads up it does come in plastic packaging, and the only place I was able to find it was Amazon.

Check out these dental floss holders: https://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-Pack/dp/B00VQTRQ56z. I too dislike flossing with my hands but one day I thought, "someone must have invented a dental floss holder" so I checked on Amazon and voila. I've been flossing my teeth every day for 5-6 years now!

PSA: if they're a frequent problem, buy a water-pik. I have this one from Amazon and it's by far some of the best $60 I've ever spent. Every time I taste the "taste," I just blast those fuckers out with the hose. So much satisfaction, and they're less of a problem now that I rinse the crypts regularly. Even better is blasting them with mouth wash, but that can make it a little more expensive.

Here are the two that I have:
This one is the corded one, the main advantage is that you get more power out of it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095IMNI0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This one is more portable, but the high setting is only about a 7 out of 10 in comparison to the corded one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UWAWQU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you hate flossing (who doesn't?) look into a water pick.

A year ago I went to the dentist for the first time in my life (I was 26). I had periodontitis and my teeth were bleeding whenever I would brush my teeth too hard. I never flossed.

I got the deep cleaning done on my teeth, and bought myself a water pick. Have gone to the dentist two times since then, and my gums have not bled a single time since a week after I started using the waterpik. Even the dentist has commented that my gums are looking extremely healthy now.

edit: I can english good.

Another tip: get an oral irrigator, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Breeze-Inc-QuickBreeze-Dental-Irrigator/dp/B000H68J2S

It won't completely replace flossing, but it does a lot of what flossing does so you don't have to do it as often. I went from flossing every day to flossing a once to twice a week and quickly using this thing once a day.

I use these things with a mixture of water, hydrogen peroxide and listerine. It takes under a minute and you don't get the pain from pressing or digging them out. I usually have to do it every few months.

Get a water flosser and you'll never have this problem. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFQQ0VU/

You use a floss threader like this: http://www.amazon.com/Oral-B-Glide-Pro-Health-Threader-Floss/dp/B000GGJCDY/

Put the stiff end of the floss between your teeth at the gum, not near the top. It will come out under the cement holding the retainer. You don't need to saw it, just move it around a little to get out anything stuck in there.

Your gums bleed from not flossing. Floss. Get one of these. You'll never want to miss a flossing again.

Non-mobile link.

https://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Care-Dental-Irrigating-Syringe/dp/B000FQ5N1A

Get one of these.

Go buy this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FQ5N1A?pc_redir=1411842317&robot_redir=1

Have you tried http://www.amazon.com/G-U-M-Butler-Eez-Thru-Floss-Threaders/dp/B000GGJCDO#. They were the only thing that worked for me

i am not a dentist. go to your dentist and tell him you cannot floss. in the meantime, use a waterpik, or use a floss threader to get the floss to the bottom of the tooth.... http://www.amazon.com/G-U-M-Butler-Eez-Thru-Floss-Threaders/dp/B000GGJCDO

>flossing is literally not an option

bruh, it's 2016

Same here, but it takes me only about 10 seconds to floss the teeth the retainer covers. If you are having trouble you should get these; they help sooo much

http://www.amazon.ca/Waterpik-W100-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395425123&sr=8-1&keywords=waterpik+ultra+water+flosser

How about water pics vs floss? http://www.amazon.ca/Waterpik-W100-Ultra-Water-Flosser/dp/B000GLRREU

That is a referral link. See the ref=....? Here's one without:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GLRREU/

I just gave you another minute to jack off every day.

http://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-Single-Handle/dp/B000LC22R6/

1. Quit now
   
   
2. Tootsie Pops
   
   
3. disposable flosser (great for driving!)

For this and other reasons, you should keep an oral irrigator in your bathroom

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Watts-Syringe-Irrigators-Tapered-Bridges/dp/B002OXEURA

Oral Irrigators
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OXEURA/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/DoctorS-Nightguard-Advanced-Comfort-Box/dp/B0036WTV2C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370286213&sr=8-1&keywords=doctor%27s+mouth+guard

I only really know specifically about the Waterpik brand:
http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Complete-Flosser-Toothbrush-WP-900/dp/B0095IMNI0/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1463087557&sr=8-2&keywords=waterpik

The Waterpik brand brush heads are kind of high, but I've seen off brand 12 packs that claim to be completely compatible.

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Complete-Flosser-Toothbrush-WP-900/dp/B0095IMNI0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

is this a good product? Or should I look for something else.

Waterpik 2in1

I just use these interdental brushes

BAM

I have this one but I paid less than that

mouth bidet

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QSNP80U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484783164&sr=8-2&keywords=flosser

Try these. They're less wasteful and much cheaper in the long run.

https://www.amazon.com/Flossaid-Dental-Floss-Holder-Assorted/dp/B00VQTRQ56

https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Cordless-Freedom-Flosser-WF-03/dp/B0173PDOMA/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1517444832&sr=1-6&keywords=water+pik

1. Reach Access Flosser
   
2. Silly Sloths
   
3. Insert third thing here
   
4. don't worry, be happy

>https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQTRQ56/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_sms\_apa\_i\_ma-VDb2MPF1DB

That thing isn't as cool as OP's, and it has 819 ratings.

You can't stop grinding. Wear the night guard and do it the rest of your life. Don't wait until your teeth are destroyed. You'll get used to it.

Cheap night guard that works extremely well:

http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-NightGuard-Advanced-Protector-Grinding/product-reviews/B0036WTV2C/

Because no one has mentioned it and several people are like "LOL flossing" allow me to introduce you to the water pik.

https://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Flosser-Electric-Countertop-Irrigator/dp/B00HFQQ0VU

Get one, use it when you brush. Hell I use it after nearly every meal because there is just so much stuff that you wouldnt think gets stuck that brushing alone wont get. If you arent flossing regularly you are probably half assing it anyway when you do.

Tomorrow from Amazon isn't good enough?

I have been using these for quite a while now and they work amazingly.

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Complete-Flosser-Toothbrush-WP-900/dp/B0095IMNI0/

&

http://www.amazon.com/Waterpik-Replacement-Tongue-Cleaners-Pack/dp/B002NPB8II


edit: lol how do you avoid that damned PriceZombie?

I use my water flosser as a mini pressure washer that blasts all debris off my razors.

If you're lazy, I suggest the Reach Access Flosser.