I'm 8 months into wearing braces and had a bit of gum bleeding initially but now it has stopped. I'd asked my dentist about this and she explained the bleeding is due to the gums being irritated by food remnants. Using an interdental brush to clean the spaces between the braces and my teeth, also the spaces between the teeth and gum edges helps a lot. It's very tedious but ensures every part of the area is free of food as the saliva in our mouth causes the food remnants to calcify and that eventuality becomes plaque.

This post has been edited by MysticShadow: Mar 29 2016, 11:43 PM

I started with using the interdental brush with the slimmest sized bristles too but found it doesn't clean the surface properly. Maybe it's too delicate?

I used Pyodontyl earlier, now using Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief: Gum Protection. I don't floss as I'm still not used to doing it with braces :/

Ya, another cause of bleeding gums is a decrease in vitamin c in your diet. If you're lacking in vitamin c lately, you could do that. I'm already taking multivitamins all this while and eat fruits daily. Hope you manage to solve this.

I'm using Colgate Slimsoft charcoal toothbrush right now. Bought a packet of them when I had the bleeding gums earlier and now wanna use it up first. My dentist also recommended the orthodontic toothbrush but she said it's not compulsory since I'm also using the interdental brush. The challenge right now for me is sometimes when eating out, I don't brush immediately after the meal due to wash area crowded and I feel a bit awkward. I'd brush my teeth a few hours later and the bleeding tends to start again although very slight so in my case, I feel it's more because of the gums being irritated by the food remnants.

I don't believe in too many supplements too. I take the multivitamins because I know I lack some nutrients in my diet. I try to take papayas regularly as I read it's a super fruit haha and it's inexpensive too The brand for supplements I take is Centrum. Not sure if it's the best but seems well rounded and as long as it does its job~ Too many brands on the shelf to compare each and every one. I just stick to this one.

Do you floss btw?

Wow, one hour after meals is good. How do you manage when eating out with friends for example? And the yumchar/makan is a few hours? I'm still trying to figure out for this case.

The bleeding stops only if I brush my teeth immediately after meals for a few days. Example, if I'd eaten out yesterday night and only got home 3 hours later to brush, the bleeding starts. This will continue for 2 or 3 days even if I do immediate. From what my dentist explained, it's cause my gums are so inflamed in the area and it needs to heal.

Ya, during my first 2-3 of braces I didn't want to take any foods that has to be chewed too. I have self ligating braces and I was constantly feeling them. One thing good is it straightened my teeth really fast! Could see the difference by 2nd visit when the dentist showed me the plaster cast of my teeth pre-braces.

Oops, sorry I didn't notice your reply.

So far, my gums have never been greyish. There was a period where one part was slightly inflammed near my one tooth which was slightly angled. This tooth was the reason I decided to get braces as it was hard to clean between. But they're fine now

Self ligating braces are a type of metal that straightens itself with time. The gradually pull is what moves the teeth back to the braces clip alignment. I'd say it's very effective cos by the end of the first month, I could see the difference! There's no rubber. During every visit, my dentist just changes the wire and since my 4th visit, she's been increasing the wires' thickness.

Btw, are you the sort to try different types of mouth wash? Just wondering about your choice to use herbal plax salt. Do you find it more effective (cleaner)?

I'm not familiar with the night only braces so I'll leave to someone else to respond

On govt clinics, I've had very good experience from them. However, they were doctors who were highly recommended prior to my visit and are individuals who are truly dedicated in giving their best in the govt sector because their motivation for being where they are is to serve the public. It is more cost effective to go to a govt clinic, but whether or not it's good depends on the doctor's skill and attitude~~

This guy did his in PJ.You ask him bout his experience la. My dentist is in Subang Jaya.

Hi hi. I go to Dental Avenue. It's located at the very far end of Subang Jaya though, aka Putra Heights.

So far, I have no complaints. My dentist explains quite thoroughly on how I should care for my teeth with the braces, and so far, there are no problems. I'm the type of patient who asks a lot of questions and all have been answered satisfactorily. The staff are also courteous which makes scheduling future appointments or change of time smooth.

Tooth extraction is memang not compulsory. The extraction is done depending on the alignment of your teeth and many factors.

I had my braces done without any extraction. I didn't ask to not extract. And the dentist, after looking at my x rays, said that she's gonna proceed straight to fixing my braces.

My dentist is in Dental Avenue, based in Putra Heights. I'd say her treatment so far is fair. They won't recommend any unnecessary procedures just to charge more.