I’m a dental hygienist... go on then ask away..

[Heatherjayne1972]

Been a hygienist over 20 years
In lots of different practices

Do I need to floss? Everytime I go they give me shit about not flossing, so I buy some, do it for 2 days and then give up 😖

Yes tetracycline staining is a thing. It can only be covered up not removed as it’s in the structure of the tooth rather than on the surface

Um I’ve found my share of pubic hairs and eyelashes. Germinating seeds is yuk
Tbh the grossest thing is people who get food stuck refuse to get in between with floss or little brushes and smell like a dustbin lorry
And wonder why I keep ‘nagging’ at them - it’s usually on behalf of their partner. Lol

Heatherjayne so I'm mid 40s and had a deep root clean 3 months ago for my gum disease problem (partly genetic and partly lack of care on my part in the past). Today the hygienist said they were looking a lot better and she would just do a usual clean and then see me in 4 months. What do you reckon my chances of hanging onto my teeth are? Will I lose them eventually? (if so, how soon?)

Yes you need to floss or use something suitable between the teeth ( not a hair/ credit card/ cotton/ bit of finger nail or a pin)
Your toothbrush doesn’t get in between so if you don’t floss some places never get cleaned

Moonkissed I used to do the same til they told me I had gum disease and would lose my teeth! I floss pretty carefully now and wish I'd started doing it when they first told me to, not now when I've paid out a lot in treatments and my gums have noticeably receded !

@lostteddy
It’s difficult for anyone to predict
Sounds like they’ve got you into a maintenance phase. You need to be super vigilant with the cleaning now
The people who keep their teeth are the ones who got really ocd about cleaning - if you lapse you increase the risk of tooth loss
It’s something we can’t predict unfortunately

Thank you for being honest Heatherjayne. I didn't realise I could have a local, that sounds bearable I'm such a coward

Which country are you based in? I've had hygienist appointments in the UK and also in six other countries.

The UK appointments have always been the shortest (and least thorough). In the UK I've seen several hygienists, so I'm not just referring to one individual person.

No criticism meant of you or your colleagues - you do a great job! I just wish see why the standard varies so much between countries?

I have very tightly packed teeth. They are straightish after wearing a brace for years as a child but I can't floss them. To get even the thinnest floss in is a struggle and getting it out again feels like I am pulling out my teeth, that's if I can get it out and don't have to resort to pulling it all the way through. The little brushes just make me laugh, I've never managed to get one between my teeth.

So my question is, I know I should floss but how can I do it? Also, have you ever come across anyone who's teeth are so close together that flossing cannot work?

I've tried flossing but 1) it takes bloody ages and 2) it caused a fair bit of bleeding. What can I do to easily incorporate flossing into my routine?

@jemstone. You can buy waxed tape which is thin like ribbon and slippery to help get between
In natural teeth there’s usually space between because they erupt individually but teeth can overlap or get clogged up so it can be a real challenge
Most people who say they can’t or there isn’t any space just haven’t found the right product of course some people just don’t want to so they insist there’s no gap

@molly
I’m in U.K. no idea why it varies so much.

@hamzilla. Ignore the blood. It’s bleeding because the plaque is irritating the gum. If you floss more often it removes the plaque and then there’s nothing left to irritate and the gums stop bleeding
I normally suggest that you floss at a different time to brushing. So you can concentrate on it
Or maybe start by doing weekly flossing then as you get quicker add another day in. Then another so you’re eventually doing daily

So are you supposed to floss before or after brushing? I've never flossed Going to buy some floss tomorrow!

Just seen your pp about flossing at a separate time to brushing.

Any particular brand you'd recommend?

I only saw one of your kind once, I was about 18.

Why did you hurt me so much?

You're kind have put me off ever seeing a dentist again.

Do you judge people on the state of their teeth?

I hate going to the dentist as I feel they're all judgey!

Jemstone I use a flat ribbon harp thingy to get in between my teeth. Mine are very tight together and that's the only thing I have found that works.

No questions OP just found the thread interesting to read.

TopBitch I'm sure you're trying to be amusing but it's just rude to speak to Heather like that when she's giving up her free time to advise people. It's not her fault you had a bad experience with a hygienist!

Thanks again for the info, Heatherjayne.

Jemstone advertises for tight teeth

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003JZT4DC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uY7pBb9CT7KKA?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I've never seen a hygienist, do all dental practices have one? I have a scale and polish when I have a check up, is that what you would normally do, or is it usual for the dentist to do it?

My last scale and polish was rubbish. Still have a big stain between my teeth I was looking forward to getting rid of. In an ideal world I'd go back and ask for a better job but I can't do that just now. Is there something I can do to get rid of this stain in the meantime? I floss it but it obviously needs something more coarse to scratch it off.

My flossing is also infrequent, thanks for the kick up the bum

@biteyshark, I have the same problem with tightly packed teeth. Where do you get the harp thingy you use? I think I tried one once but it snapped when I tried to pull it out.

Why is it so expensive? I could do with seeing a hygienist, but it is £35 for a 20 min appointment, and to be honest that seems a lot. My NHS dentist used to do scale/polish and everything that needed doing - and it was free.

Now hygienist is more expensive than the dentist. £115 per hour is more than I can afford. Why don't dentists offer this service?

PlanetPiffle posted the link of the make I use just before you posted. I do get a few that snap on my worst teeth but 99% of the time they don't and I can floss. Just wish I had found them years ago as then my guns might have been a bit more healthy.

Flossing has no benefit. Apparently.

www.standard.co.uk/news/health/official-flossing-your-teeth-is-a-waste-of-time-a3310521.html