To ask for teeth cleaning advice...?

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Hi all, my DD is 12 and has got various orthodontic issues which she needs braces and other things for. Unfortunately, when we've been to the specialist orthodontist they've said that her oral hygiene isn't good enough to have braces. They've said that twice now. She's been to the hygienist twice but, while her teeth are clean, her gums aren't great. The gaps between her teeth don't allow floss or interdental brushes through. The advice we're given is just to brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush, which she does, but it's clearly not enough.

I'm wondering if she needs a different electric brush. Has anyone upgraded from a 'normal' electric brush to a 'fancy' one and really noticed the difference it made? Thanks

Oral B IO, plus disclosing tablets. Make sure the brush is on the gum line.

Get some floss picks, like these:

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/oracare-sensitive-flossers-x30

I have very tight gaps between some of my teeth and can’t use the Tee-Pee brushes for that reason.

You could also combine these with a WaterPik:

https://www.waterpik.co.uk/

Water flosser?

Get her a waterjet.

Ask the dentist for specific advice?

The key with an electric brush, like with any brush, is to do it properly and reach all surfaces. My kids are younger but often after they've "brushed" their teeth I can look at them and point out the specific parts they've missed. A good dentist should be able to tell her what she's missing. You can also look up instruction videos for what good brushing should look like.

I used Phillips sonic brush as believed this was best. It was expensive. Flossed and used those brushes too. Dentist said my gum health was not great. Told me to switch to oral B IO. I got it half price on a Tesco club card.

I did and my teeth and gum health is so much better. I thought it was all in the technique m, especially with electric brushes. But the brush made a difference.

Disclosing tablets!
Get her to brush first then use the tablets, this will show her where she’s missing.
Also, is she using the electric toothbrush correctly? A little if people still “scrub” their teeth with an electric brush. The brush needs to be held against the tooth (not missing the gum line) then moved to the next tooth. The brush goes the work.

Thanks all. She has tried the disclosing tablets but not with much success, and we've tried the picks but they don't go between her teeth (well, they do for some of them but not the overlapping ones).

She does tend to scrub but wherever I see her doing it, I remind her not to, but it's still not enough and I'm worried that she'll never get her much needed braces!

I'll look into the IO brush...

She must be able to get floss between her teeth though? (Which is what those picks are)

I'm between some teeth she can, but a lot of them overlap each other so nothing can get in there!!

Following with interest as my daughter has been forewarned that the orthodontist rejects very easily over gum bleeding and oral hygiene but surely there is some give, especially if teeth are overlapping!

I'd recommend an interspace toothbrush head.

I have gum issues and have two electric toothbrushes - one with a regular head for biting surfaces, my gum line and my bigger teeth faces and one with a small head to tackle overlapping teeth.

There are very few teeth that cannot be flossed at all. It’s incredibly rare to not be able to get between teeth even if they are crossed over. You just need the right floss and to be shown how to do it. Which the hygienist or dentist should have done.

To be honest though, in my opinion it is good brushing that will make the most difference (although flossing will help). I have seen patients who have never flossed in their life but because their brushing is excellent they have very little gum issues or bleeding. What I would say, is that sometimes patients will brush EXCELLENT on the say of their appointment. So they turn up with little to no plaque but the rest of the time they aren’t doing as good a job (even though they say they are). It’s human nature sometimes that people get lazy when tired or in a rush so I’m not blaming them for this is an accusing way. And sometimes it’s genuinely not knowing how to do it well. Which is why a dental professional should show you. Has your daughter been shown with an actual brush in her own mouth while looking in the mirror? Practices should really have a demo model of a brush (with disposable heads) they can use or if not take her one with her to the next appointment. The other thing that can sometimes help if gums are feeling sore is warm salty water mouth rinse. Just make sure to spit it out and not swallow it. It will taste revolting. I wouldn’t advise Corsodyl as it stains teeth and in some cases where brushing is not good will increase the amount of tartar build up which then makes it even harder to clean.

The reason why orthodontists won’t put braces on with poor hygiene is it only tends to get worse. If a patient is struggling (or not motivated) without brackets on their teeth they will struggle further with them and the risk of damage to their teeth is too high. It’s often better to have healthy crooked teeth than straight decayed/stained teeth. I have attached a picture of what can happen to teeth if not looked after properly during ortho. These white marks are permanent. They cannot be removed by cleaning or bleaching. (Image may take a while to show up)

Look up teethtalkgirl on YouTube. She explains in a really easy to understand way exactly how to brush teeth for the most effective results.
An electric toothbrush takes most of the work out of toothbrushing.
There is growing evidence now that flossing or using teepee brushes before brushing is more effective at removing plaque.
I understand some of the teeth are crowded but use floss or teepee brushes on the teeth that you can.
If you smell the floss or teepee brush after you have used it, you can smell if there is plaque there.
I would steer away from mouthwash because it upsets the microbiome in the saliva.
Tongue brushing is also recommended.

Tooth brushing is quite simple once you know how to do it properly and you get into a routine.
Brush at least twice a day, 3 times if you can.
The last brush before bed is the most important.
Do not rinse. Just spit.
Use the 30 minute rule.
Don't brush for 30 minutes after eating or drinking and don't eat or drink for 30 minutes after brushing.

As others have said, a water flosser is useful but not anywhere near as effective as floss or teepee brushes.
In the absence of flossing or teepee brushes, a water flosser is better than nothing, but it is best to use a water flosser alongside flossing, not instead of.

As another poster has said, it is so important to angle the brush towards the gums, so you are brushing the gum line.
If you don't floss, teepee brush, or angle the brush, your gums will bleed because the plaque isnt being removed from them.

It takes between 24 and 48 hours for plaque to harden into calculus which will need removing by a dentist or a hygienist.