Teeth cleaning help - unhealthy gums!

[Helpmechooseausername]

My DD13 needs a lot of orthodontic work but it can't start until her oral hygiene is really good. Unfortunately it's not good at all and I just don't know what to do! She goes to the dentist twice a year and always has done. She's seen the hygienist a few times over the last couple of years. She uses an electric brush for two mins twice a day. Her teeth are very crowded so floss or interdental brushes are almost impossible.

I feel so bad that I can't help her get on top of it, because I know she's trying. I'm also really worried that she won't get the orthodontic work she desperately needs.

Her older siblings all had braces but no problems with cleaning. I can see (and sometimes smell) her gums are not healthy. She's been shown how to clean properly by the hygienist but it just doesn't help.

What can I do to help her? Would a better electric brush help? Mouthwash? Tips gratefully accepted!

Hygienist at least every 6 months or more if you can afford it.

And water flosser - I got one last week and the plaque it blasts off your teeth is shocking. My one came with the tongue cleaning and brushes as well as a normal head. Takes a bit of practice not to spray water all over the place (I started in the shower after the first hilarious attempt!), but the high pressure water will get into the nooks and crannies. Can use diluted mouthwash in it too.

I second a water flosser. Game changer.

Please can I ask which water flosser you have, I have been looking at them and a recommendation is always helpful. Thanks

If her gums are bad, so bad they smell, then it's highly likely she's not actually brushing properly for 2 minutes a day.

You can fit floss around crowded teeth, but regardless orthodontists aren't idiots. They will see where the plaque/gingival inflammation is. You can see if its isolated to particularly crowded areas, and a bit of interdental plaque in a 13yo isn't going to cause generalised gum problems. The Orthodontist won't be denying her braces because of a bit of interdental plaque in areas of crowding.

No new gadget will improve her oral hygeine, I would get some disclosing tablets and sit with her whilst she brushes so she can see where she's missing

I got a Binefia Water Flosser from Amazon for £19.99. I chose that one as it is a Which? Best Buy and priced low enough that I was willing to give it a go.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of a water flosser so I'll look into that.

I have tried and tried to monitor how well she's actually cleaning her teeth rather than just moving the brush round her mouth a bit for a couple of minutes, but she must be getting slack whenever I'm not checking.

Her appointment with the orthodontist is in July so I just hope we've got enough time to really get her sorted!

Are water flosses safe?

Why wouldn’t they be?

I can’t think of an issue.

I agree OP, a water flosser would be helpful. I have a waterpik and would recommend it although they aren’t the cheapest.

It's going to be a lot harder to brush her teeth with the braces on so she really needs to be motivated with her oral hygeine. Does she want braces?

A water flosser may help the hard to reach areas, but it musnt replace actual brushing. 2 minutes is an arbitrary figure, she needs to brush each tooth systematically for about 10 seconds each surface, so this normally adds to about 2 minutes, the hygienist should have demonstrated proper technique but if she can't remember it might be worth another visit. But just scrubbing for 2 minutes isn't necessarily good brushing.

Teenagers can be really hard to motivate, small children you can do it for them, adults it's up to them but 13 is a really hard age and it's really common for teens to not brush very thoroughly

Had similar issues with my son after having braces

turned out he was worried he would damage the brace by brushing too hard and wasn't brushing close to the gums enough

purchased disclosing tablets off Amazon which have definitely helped see where he is missing.

was stressful as orthodontist threatened to remove the braces , had an appointment today and he said brushing was much better

link for the tablets
amzn.eu/d/06pvD892