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?

Oral B electric toothbrushes are half off at Boots I think. So £17. They are fab.

I had an expensive electric Phillips Sonicare one and had issues with it recharging after use. I bought a cheap Oral B electric one at Costco instead.

I tried both brushes with disclosing tablets and the Oral b gave me a far superior clean than the Phillips one.

So I would recommend Oral B too.

I have ordered a Waterpik thingy from Boots for when I come home next week. Can't believe how excited I am about cleaning tooth gunk!

Oral B trizone now charging, can't wait to brush my teeth tonight!

Side note: got it from boots, I have £25 worth of points on my advantage card but was not allowed to use them, apparently you have to have enough points to cover the whole price, who knew? That's a bit of a rubbish rule, isn't it?

I always recommend oral b to my patients. In independent clinical trials they come out better than sonicare. Plus it's a bigger range so people can find something to suit their budget. It's always worth noting that if it does stop working within two years you can send it to them Freepost and they'll send you a new one.

I have a question about flossing as well: how much time should i spend on each gap? Is it just up and down and move on?

(Can't believe how little I know about mouth care, it's embarrassing really )

Can I just say how much, as an adult, I have enjoyed rediscovering disclosing tablets with DS!

I had to take one with him to show him it wasn't poison.

They are super cheap and it is really easy to get into a habitual brushing technique that isn't effective, even with an electric toothbrush.

Just using one tablet monthly, on a Sunday morning means that I can hone my skills. I have some indents in my teeth due to a brace as a teen and I had no idea of the plaque that collected in there, and in the bite surface of the teeth.

We have blue coloured ones and we also play zombies while we chew them.

I have no idea what a disclosing tablet is, but I'm happy for you, Wally!

I have receding gums, and my gums bleed every time I brush them, and have done for years. I bought an electric toothbrush and started using mouthwash, both at my dentist's suggestion, but I don't see any difference since starting to use them. I don't think much to the Philips Sonicare, it doesn't feel like it's getting between the teeth properly, so it's interesting to learn that I'm not the only one thinking that. Also interesting to learn that Listerine is no good. I hate the taste of Corsodyl!

Quick question Kiss, if you don't mind? I suspect that the kind of toothbrush where the bristles rotate on a circular head would be better than the ones where they move up and down, like the Sonicare. Is this true?

I only floss now and again because I am a bit squeamish about mouth stuff, but after reading the thread will try doing it every day and see if that helps. I don't tend to do between the back teeth as the gaps aren't big enough to get the floss in.

www.smilesonunionsquare.com/pediatrics/disclosing_tablets.htm

Mrspenny: they are the ones that come out best in clinical trials (independent trials, not ones funded by sonicare) you can't go wrong with a Braun oral b. flossing really will make all the difference though, the best brush will only clean around 80% of your tooth surfaces, you need floss or interdental brushes for the rest.

Thank you! So glad I didn't pay full price for my Sonicare, got it half price when Amazon were doing Black Friday or something, was still £40+ though!