I'm flossing my teeth, and want to know what is the fucking point, really?

[trashcanjunkie]

I gave up smoking six weeks or so ago. I had my teeth cleaned for forty five quid at the dentists, they are lovely and stain free. I have gum disease cos of my dirty habit, and the hygeinist wants me to return in a couple of months for deep below the gum cleaning. She wants to use an anastheatic as it's gonna really hurt, which I'm a bit horrified at. She said not to use corsodyl in the meantime, as it will stain my teeth, and that I have to floss daily. Now, I've been at the flossing for a month, and to be honest I'm struggling to see any changes/benefits. One or two places piss with blood each time, and the rest don't. Nothing changes! AIBU to ask, how many people floss and do you notice a difference if you do or don't?

I used electric toothbrush for years as well as floss sticks sparkling. Wish id bought water pik years ago. It gets in the nooks and crannies.

Waterpik is fab. Heard about it and bought it cos of MN! It's fab - as much fun as power hosing the paving flags and just as satisfying. I was literally roaring with laughter the first few times I used it, as I cannoned it across the bathroom and up my nose and in my eye!

Medical research I read a few months ago said flossing is a waste of time, and I am inclined to agree.

Tell that to the dentists.

No flossing=Yuk, yuk and double yuk!

Can you link to that Lori? I'm a dentist and I certainly haven't seen any such research.

I can't believe leaving bits of food between your teeth leading to gum disease is a good thing Lori.

I think that what Lori is saying comes from a book called Kiss your dentist goodbye. It was to do with bad technique at flossing means it is a waste of time. You have to get the floss to wipe right over the side of the tooth. Which is why I think the waterpik works far better. I have got very receded gums. I have given up sugar and alcohol also as well as troughing between meals. My gums don't bleed anymore and my teeth look far better. And I've lost two stone.

If you ever wonder whether flossing is worth it, floss your teeth and then sniff the floss.

THAT ought to encourage you!

The thought of people never flossing makes me feel icky.

ha ha, it sometimes smells of bums! akissisnotacontract as you're a dentist, please can you tell me if I use waterpik, will that be the same as flossing? I'm still flossing by the way everyone.... do I get a fucking sticker or some shit?

£50 quid!!!!!! mind you they do look awesome, and depending on their life span, I geuss they could work out cheaper than floss. Hmmm let's do the maths. If trash uses one packet of tooth floss at £2.99 every week, in a mere four months, the waterpik will have cost the equivalent.... how does it get the water inside? reviews please!

It has a water tank with a little hole to fill up with water (bit like an iron). One tank lasts enough for each time. Warm water is good, cold water is ouchy.
It has to be charged up like an electric toothbrush.

I don't think a Waterpik is as good as flossing. It's ok to use as well as but not instead of. I wouldn't buy one personally. A packet of floss should last you much more than a week too.

Kiss. My hygienist recommended the Waterpik, because I have gaps that are really hard to floss properly. I use the Tepe brushes that will go in the gaps.

Really LRD?? My dentist told me the opposite! She said you can't brush the gums too hard and people are afraid of making their gums bleed.

Mine are terrible :( I might try dental floss.

I have used a tepe brush before and found it really good but painful and it did cause a lot of bleeding.

I hate flossing. The floss gets stuck between my teeth and I can't get it out.
Fiddly and a bloody nuisance

That's what I found determined. It felt like it would never come out, and I always had a mild panic.

I'm 30 and have never flossedor brush at night . I've git perfect teeth and have never had a cavity even in my milk teeth. I think it's just down to genetics really.

Having had a cavity that developed between two teeth and very nearly ended up in a root canal, I'd say flossing is worth it.

Wait until you're 50 and you've lost the bone around your teeth then, it's not just about cavities.

If you can't see the point of flossing, try this:

Don't floss for a while, then floss. Then sniff the floss.

Yuk.

Oh - Chocs already suggested that....

satsuki do you live in a naturally fluoridated water area such as the North East? My DH hasn't got a single cavity or filling because the local water was so excellent for teeth. It may not be genetic.

Kiss, what do you think of mouthwash? Is that worth doing? I use it but not sure why.

It's only worth it if you use it at a different time to brushing. It's useful in some cases, like teens with orthodontics. I don't use mouthwash personally but do recommend them sometimes- Alcohol free fluoride ones, not crap like listerine.