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?

Thanks Kiss. DS1 has top and bottom train tracks so he's always busy with the Tepe brushes and mouthwash.

I live in the north east - is that why I have no cavities? This doesn't get away from the fact that flossing is to save your gums people!!! not to prevent cavities. thanks akiss I'll save my pennies for now. I have to confess to being a little over exhuberant with the floss. I pull tons out at a time to wrap round my fingers, and I can't abide the ides of using the same bit twice by mistake, so I leave a gap my boyfriend actually commented on the amount I use. I told him to fuck the fuck off

and for the record, I had to use stupid satin tape tonight, cos I'm out of expanding floss. Kept slicing my buggering gums up

Started doing the Dr Ellie system in Jan as new years resolution. Bit of a pain in the neck but no flossing unless something gets stuck. Only time I have had morning breath is when I've fallen asleep and forgotten to do mouthwashes and brushing. Gums look way better too. The Listerine step stings though.

Kids loving all the xylitol candies.

Have never flossed in my life but this thread is making me think I should

Trash: satin tape shouldn't slice your gums up. Wrap it round the tooth in a c shape and wipe the sides of each tooth, don't saw it into the gums. Get your hygienist to give you a demo when you go back for the deep cleaning.

I don't like the satin tape. I use Oral B essential floss which is one of the cheaper ones (I think)

Flossing removes the crud from between your teeth so it must help prevent cavities ? Mustn't it ?

Flossing is more for the gums. Some people can have lots of calculus above and below the gums and no cavities. That's why some people lose their teeth to gum disease without even realising they have it. They think 'I don't have pain, I don't need to see a dentist' while the calculus and plaque slowly eats away at the bone around their teeth. Eventually they realise they have a problem when their teeth get loose/start falling out.

So flossing is for removing plaque more so than food. That said, if you have food traps between your teeth that can cause decay (and also smell awful when the food starts to decompose)

Kiss, are interdentals as good as flossing?
My teeth are awful - too many sweets as a child and too much bloody diet coke as an adult - currently have morning sickness and all that's helping is sweet stuff - are sugar free boiled sweets as bad? Have lost a tooth in every pregnancy so far and really dont want to lose any more! Sorry to hijack...

Sugar free boiled sweets are fine for your teeth, especially if they contain xylitol. Interdental brushes (tepes etc) are as good as flossing, better for some people e.g. those with bigger gaps between their teeth or those with gum recession.

Thanks so much!

thanks kiss. I did actually have a demo from her last time. The trouble is I have a six mm gap on one of my gums (bottom canine?) and that is where it catches

I have invisible braces and have to brush and floss after eating, every time!

I've noticed a huge difference, my teeth are whiter, plaque free and very smooth when I rub my tongue along.

Flossing is something that isn't encouraged that much in this country, I only started when I got my braces thankfully I'm used to doing now so will continue.

This has made me think again about what Im doing. Going to try interdentals as well as waterpik. Thanks for all the good advice kiss.

I have been inspired by this thread and gone out and bought both some floss and some of the picks with floss between them to do a little trial. Unfortunately for me, and the environment as I hate throwing plastic away, the picks are the best for me. I can't get my technique right with the floss and I've been watching youtube videos to teach me.

I have been making an effort to get my teeth looking nice since Christmas. I bought myself a Philips Sonicare electric brush which has been so much better than my old Oral-B. My teeth feel noticably cleaner but I'm not satisfied. Think I might book myself in for a scale and polish as I havn't been to the dentist in years (havn't had the money).

Thank you trashcanjunkie

Recent flossing evidence here

www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v13/n1/full/6400835a.html

Tunnock: you can sometimes get a quick clean if you're lucky. For a thorough clean your best option is to see a hygienist. If your practice doesn't have one then you can ask your dentist to refer you to one in another practice.

I think it is - mine has stopped doing it. Another dentist also told me that the link between gum disease and heart problems was in doubt - poor lifestyle common to both conditions.

I had gum disease and I now floss and it has gone away . They do feel nicer for it. Keep going !

at blackmini you're very welcome. I think we should have a peer counselling tooth flossing support group. We could get funding from sure start, and train others to floss..... Seriously though, I'm very grateful for all the ace advice, and others coming over to the flossy side. I do have a question about those pick things nork put a link to. How many times do you use each one of them, and how do you clean them up?

Interesting point made about xylitol. My mum mentioned about it being a very good regime for teeth.

I was interested as I have no fillings and don't floss. LovelyDentist says my gums and teeth are all good.

I'm another one who's been inspired by this thread! Went and bought some floss and used it for the first time this morning (I don't think I have ever flossed before ). My gums didn't bleed - does that mean they're healthy or that I didn't do it properly?

I would also like to buy myself a power toothbrush because i love gadgets , but don't want to spend more than say £50? Any recommendations or good offers about?

My dentist said to think of flossing like you'd think of deodorant - you would never dream of going out not using deodorant and flossing is in the same category. I've flossed ever since!