What's Normal? - Do you regularly floss your teeth? (1 Viewer)

[The General]

I floss 1-2 x a day now. Didnt floss much at all as a kid.


As a former non-flosser - I PLEAD with you guys who arent flossing a few times a week, PLEASE FLOSS - There is no debate, you 100% have food in your mouth from several days ago. Think about that for a minute.

Also, if you aren't using a tongue scraper things you are gonna vomit when you see how much crap is stuck your tongue.

Or google gingivitis photos.

 

[shuke]

Every night. Can't not do it.

LOL at once a week being "regularly".

 

[ShamrockPride]

I hardly ever floss. Only when necessary is where I fit. I do it when I have something stuck that bothers me. I am about ready to turn 51 and have had two cavities in my life. My dentist always said my teeth are great. When I do remember or think to floss "just because" I rarely, if ever, get anything out from between my teeth. I guess I am just lucky.

This is where I am. I'll floss if something is bugging me, like I can feel something in between. Maybe I do my entire mouth once a week by happenstance, where I target something I feel, get that out, but then I'm like, well I already have the string out, may as well do em all.

I have 1 filling I got in when I was like 10, but nothing aside from that. End of every visit my dentist tells me how awesome my teeth are looking.

this is me as well.

but a few weeks in advance of my dentist visit, I'll start flossing most nights... just to make sure I don't start bleeding on the guy when he starts poking around.

last thing my dad advised regarding dental care- Sonicaire. he swore by those things.

Haha, yes. I've been using a Sonicare for 15 years since my dentist told me I manually brush too aggressively and my gums were receding, and they told me they may have to graft my gums if I don't ease off the pressure.

Have been breezing thru dental appointments ever since. Completely agree with your dad. Dollar for dollar, Sonicare is probably one of the best investments in my health I've ever made.

 

[Ilov80s]

Skip sometimes but prolly ends up at like 3-4 times a week

 

[gianmarco]

For those of you that do it less than once per week, when you do it, are you getting stuff out? If so, do you think you're getting lucky and getting it on the day it happened to get stuck? Or do you realize there's a good probability it's been there for at least a couple days?

If you aren't ever getting anything out, then why bother to do it ever?

 

[BlackCrowes]

obsessively. as if not more important than brushing for me. if i don't my gums get very soar.

 

[Gally]

For those of you that do it less than once per week, when you do it, are you getting stuff out? If so, do you think you're getting lucky and getting it on the day it happened to get stuck? Or do you realize there's a good probability it's been there for at least a couple days?

If you aren't ever getting anything out, then why bother to do it ever?

I very rarely get anything out when I floss unless I am flossing due to there being something stuck in the first place. If I floss "just because" typically nothing comes out at all.

 

[Da Guru]

Every night before bed. I have one little gap between my two lower back molars that things get stuck in and it irritates the crap out of me if I don`t floss.

 

[trogg78]

Everyday! I don’t ever want gum transplants.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

For those of you that do it less than once per week, when you do it, are you getting stuff out? If so, do you think you're getting lucky and getting it on the day it happened to get stuck? Or do you realize there's a good probability it's been there for at least a couple days?

If you aren't ever getting anything out, then why bother to do it ever?

I very rarely get anything out when I floss unless I am flossing due to there being something stuck in the first place. If I floss "just because" typically nothing comes out at all.

Im trying to figure out the disconnect here…

How is this even possible? Do you have gaps between all of your teeth? Do you not chew your food?

I just can’t wrap my head around this.

 

[jhib]

For those of you that do it less than once per week, when you do it, are you getting stuff out? If so, do you think you're getting lucky and getting it on the day it happened to get stuck? Or do you realize there's a good probability it's been there for at least a couple days?

If you aren't ever getting anything out, then why bother to do it ever?

I very rarely get anything out when I floss unless I am flossing due to there being something stuck in the first place. If I floss "just because" typically nothing comes out at all.

I have similar experience to you. About the same age, only one cavity ever (when I turned 40), good reviews from dentist without flossing very often at all. I had tried getting myself into the flossing habit, but it didn't stick, plus it didn't seem like it was doing much anyway. I finally got myself into it using the picks maybe five years ago and now always do it as part of my nightly routine. One of things I noticed is that since I have tight teeth, I had always used Glide floss, but it turns out that stuff just glides over the teeth anyway and really only takes away any bigger things stuck in there (which I wouldn't usually have). With the picks, I use the "grin" brand, which has floss that is finer and stronger but not so waxy, so they get in and out but also scrape the sides of the teeth better. I can definitely see the difference between my bottom front teeth especially.

Of course, now it seems they have might have discontinued my favorite form factor - the 'molar' ones, which I find so much easier to get at all my teeth compared to the usual floss picks.

 

[Terminalxylem]

For the infrequent flossers, and those who recover little between-teeth debris, what flossing technique do you use? Do you make a “C”, while spending a second or two for several strokes on every tooth edge? The whole process takes a minute or two, almost as long as brushing,

Don’t have big gaps in my teeth at all, such that I often shred floss strands and need to reload, but always dislodge something while flossing daily. Seems nearly impossible to get everything with brushing alone, unless you eat a liquid diet?

I can usually figure out who is taking dental hygiene shortcuts. Even with white teeth, it's easy to smell tooth decay.

ETA: While it doesn’t change my opinion on the value of flossing (I suspect people aren’t doing it right), this is interesting:

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess systematically the adjunctive effect of both flossing and toothbrushing versus toothbrushing alone on plaque and gingivitis.

Materials: The MEDLINE and Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched through December 2007 to identify appropriate studies. The variables of plaque and gingivitis were selected as outcomes.

Results: Independent screening of titles and abstracts of 1166 MEDLINE–Pubmed and 187 Cochrane papers resulted in 11 publications that met the eligibility criteria. Mean values and SD were collected by data extraction. Descriptive comparisons are presented for brushing alone or brushing and flossing. A greater part of the studies did not show a benefit for floss on plaque and clinical parameters of gingivitis. A meta-analysis was performed for the plaque index and gingival index.

Conclusions: The dental professional should determine, on an individual patient basis, whether high-quality flossing is an achievable goal. In light of the results of this comprehensive literature search and critical analysis, it is concluded that a routine instruction to use floss is not supported by scientific evidence.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Also, if you aren't using a tongue scraper things you are gonna vomit when you see how much crap is stuck your tongue.

buying one now just out of curiosity

I never knew they were a thing until about 10 years ago. A dental assistant gave me a plastic one and I tried it out.

You do realise that you can just use your toothbrush?

Some of you people are animals.

 

[Senor Schmutzig]

Just went to the dentist today and was chastised because I didn't floss enough. Once I told her my frequency (4-5 times/week), the hygienist indicated that I wasn't going deep enough. TWSS

 

[gianmarco]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

 

[Gally]

For those of you that do it less than once per week, when you do it, are you getting stuff out? If so, do you think you're getting lucky and getting it on the day it happened to get stuck? Or do you realize there's a good probability it's been there for at least a couple days?

If you aren't ever getting anything out, then why bother to do it ever?

I very rarely get anything out when I floss unless I am flossing due to there being something stuck in the first place. If I floss "just because" typically nothing comes out at all.

Im trying to figure out the disconnect here…

How is this even possible? Do you have gaps between all of your teeth? Do you not chew your food?

I just can’t wrap my head around this.

It's actually quite the opposite. My teeth are tightly packed (I have all my wisdom teeth and they are all "in"). I shred floss almost every tooth when I do floss. I take my time and scrape multiple times between/on each tooth. If I am going to floss I make sure I spend the time on it. And still, never get anything out unless there was something stuck that prompted me to floss in the first place.

I don't know what to tell you. My dentist tells me my teeth and gums are great and I never get cavities. I have never been told I have bad breath (and my friends would definitely tell me if that was the case). I am just lucky I guess.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Also, if you aren't using a tongue scraper things you are gonna vomit when you see how much crap is stuck your tongue.

buying one now just out of curiosity

I never knew they were a thing until about 10 years ago. A dental assistant gave me a plastic one and I tried it out.

You do realise that you can just use your toothbrush?

Some of you people are animals.

I always brushed my tongue (a my gums and the roof of my mouth,) but those scrapers are 1000x more effective.

 

[ChiefD]

obsessively. as if not more important than brushing for me. if i don't my gums get very soar.

Do they fly to the molar system?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I always brushed my tongue (a my gums and the roof of my mouth,) but those scrapers are 1000x more effective.

Odd. I've never noticed a difference. (I'm not going to comment on my tongue. Just not doing it.)

 

[The General]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

I have very tight teeth and floss shreds easily or breaks. The dentist said a waterpik was a good solution but flossing was prefered.

As mentioned after flossing for awhile your gums will no longer bleed though.

 

[PIK95]

Like five times a day. Seriously.

More than that really. I even floss while driving, then I'll chew the pick for a while.

 

[nirad3]

Like five times a day. Seriously.

More than that really. I even floss while driving, then I'll chew the pick for a while.

Username checks out.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

I have big hands/fingers, no way I can use regular floss. I can barely get to the back teeth with the picks.

 

[Keerock]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

I have big hands/fingers, no way I can use regular floss. I can barely get to the back teeth with the picks.

You know what they say about guys with big hands...

Big gloves

 

[dickey moe]

I don't understand "Only when necessary"

Ribs down?

 

[Terminalxylem]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

I have big hands/fingers, no way I can use regular floss. I can barely get to the back teeth with the picks.

Try removing your foot first.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

I have big hands/fingers, no way I can use regular floss. I can barely get to the back teeth with the picks.

Try removing your foot first.

What’s up?

 

[Terminalxylem]

I have flossed maybe 5 times in my life not counting the times at the dentist office. No cavities, no dinosaur breath, no food dingleberries.

Everytime I have tried it I ended up bleeding so I quit. I wouldn't mind giving one of those fancy water piks a try, are they a reasonable substitute?

Any advice for someone starting from scratch with flossing? Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old who has never flossed. I am not opposed to it, just scared of it.

* I don't mean explain the benefits, explain the technique and tips not to bleed

You're bleeding because your gums are inflamed and not used to it. Once you do it regularly for a few days, it won't hurt or bleed anymore. Your gums and teeth will thank you.

The flossers I linked above are really easy to use. I'd start there.

I agree with this assessment, but just learn to use floss alone - the picks are a waste of $, and plastic imo. Water picks work as well, but are kinda messy.

Here's a video discussing flossing.

I have big hands/fingers, no way I can use regular floss. I can barely get to the back teeth with the picks.

Try removing your foot first.

What’s up?

It was a joke