Fig. 1: Pick-a-Dent, made by Denticator, is one of the most durable portable dental picks for patients on the market. Fig. 2: SturdyFloss has a bendable tip which helps orthodontic patients floss more easily and effectively. Fig. 3: The DentaKit Braces Survival Kit contains everything an orthodontic patient needs to keep their teeth clean "on the go." much larger choice of products than mere plastic threader needles. Of course, the plastic threader needle (such as Bridge-Aid) has always been a reliable standard. But for more convenience, there are a variety of new flosses and flossing tools for patients with braces. Floss with a built-in threader is hands-down the best recent innova-tion for braces. The threader tip of this type of floss is usually either heavily waxed to stay stiff, or it can be made of some sort of flexible plastic. Our two favorites are Stur-dyFloss and Oral-B Glide Threader Floss. SturdyFloss has a stiff tip that bends to meet the patient's needs. (Fig. 2) Oral-B Glide Threader Floss has a stiff waxy tip, and the thin durable Glide floss material is perfect for patients with tight contacts. SunStar Gum has just come out with a similar new prod-uct called EasyThread Floss that has a double plastic tip. If your patient has large gaps between the teeth, Thornton 3-in-One Floss or Oral-B SuperFloss are very effective at removing plaque because both prod-ucts contain a wide spongy element that is perfect for wide contacts. If your patient has a favorite floss, but doesn't want to use a threader needle, the FlossFish Tool can be a convenient option. This tool was created by an orthodontic patient. It works with any type of dental floss. Once patients get the hang of using the FlossFish, they can use it for the duration of their orthodontic treatment. Of course, some patients just love floss picks. A “regular” floss pick will not work with braces, because the arch wire gets in the way. Fortunately, several floss pick products have come on the market recently that accommodate orthodontic patients. The Plackers Orthopick Flosser is high quality and works very well with braces. The tool is designed to get beneath the arch wire, and the extra-strong floss does not shred or break. Other orthodontic flossing gadgets have emerged here and there, but some of them are too awkward or cumbersome for orthodontic patients to use effectively (especially if they have power chains on their brackets). When it comes to flossing braces, it seems that simple tools just seem to work the best. from the faucet as needed. The Redi-Breeze stays on the faucet and works with a toggle switch. There is even a ShowerBreeze, which the patient can use in the shower! Oral Breeze products work on any bathroom faucet that has a removable aerator. Orthodontic Dental Kits Most dentists give a “new patient kit” to their orthodontic patients. It usually includes a container of dental wax, some floss threader needles, a spiral brush, and an orthodontic toothbrush. Sometimes it can also contain disclosing tablets, an egg timer, bite wafers, and a mouth mirror. You can put this kit together yourself with a baggie, or get a basic inex-pensive kit from companies like Plaksmaker, Ortho Organizers, or The Orthodontic Store. A dental kit is a great handout for the new orthodontic patient, but most of the basic kits offered by dental supply companies are not meant for heavy daily use. In no time, they get battered and fall apart, leaving the patient scrambling to find something they can actually use every day. DentaKit.com makes a Braces Survival Kit (Fig. 3)that will last your patient the entire duration of their multi-year treatment. It includes everything a patient needs, including an imported leakproof folding cup. The case is made from heavy-duty denier nylon. It zips closed, and when opened, lies flat like a book. Patients can buy the DentaKit Braces Survival Kit directly from the DentaKit.com website. Oral Irrigators Oral Irrigators were originally developed to aid in periodontal health, but they can be great tools for the orthodontic patient, as well. The original (and still one of the best) is the Waterpik. It's conve-nient for dislodging food debris before the patient brushes. Waterpik makes an orthodontic tip, but the standard jet tip works just as well for braces. Waterpik also makes a cordless portable model, but we have found that it seems to fall short for orthodontic patients, because the water stream isn't strong enough to dislodge food from their brackets. Oral Breeze makes several high quality irrigators that attach directly to the bathroom faucet. The Quick-Breeze can be attached and detached www.orthodontics.com September/October 2013 21
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society September-October 2013: Page 21
