To think that people who don't floss are a bit gross

[Spikeythistle]

Ok so I admit I didn't used to floss but now I do everyday and I can't believe how much crap you can get out from between your teeth! The thought of that sitting there all day really grosses me out.
I recently went away for a couple of days and forgot to take any floss so when I got back and did floss I got loads of chunky bits of food out and they really stank just like bad breath. Bleurgh!!!

Every time i go to the dental hygienist, I go and buy some floss and vow that this time, I will become the religious flosser. It never lasts more than about 3 days.

I'm tempted by one of those things that shoots water jets that you can use instead of flossing, but am put off by the price tag.

I floss every day. But I don't get loads of gunk out from that. Presumably that varies between people.

I can't link because I'm on the phone. I can tell you what the head of the Eastman told me about bad breath. It doesn't mean you have bad breath, but it means you are more likely to have bad breath. Ditto with the percentage - I think it's about 20 - of stuff that brushing alone doesn't clean off. Like I say, I tend to feel that people who have built up a pretty eminent career in dental health know what they're talking ban

...about. You are of course free to reach your own conclusions.

For the water pick users, how do you rate them and are they easy to use? Is there a particular one?

I'm tempted by one of those things that shoots water jets that you can use instead of flossing, but put off by the price tag I got This one for less than £30 and its great

I think you need to improve your brushing technique. I used to floss but hated it (now use a waterpik thing). I rarely got anything out.

I talked to my dentist about brushing technique. No brushing technique would enable me to clean what the Tepe brushes reach.

My mouth is full of fillings (dodgy dentist when younger) with no space between some of them. If I try flossing a bit of filling usually falls out.
I can do the front teeth OK and often do but the back ones just get a good brush and sometimes mouthwash. I rarely eat sweets and cakes.

I floss and I personally love it, but I don't think people are gross if they don't... Especially if their teeth are clean.

flossing is actually bad for your teeth. its not recommended any more

I floss most days. If I miss a day or two the tiny bits of gunk that come out of my top back teeth stinks. However I couldn't care less if anyone else does or doesn't floss. Up to them.

Erm, Adrift, we're going to need a citation for that

I don't feel clean If I don't floss.

I keep it in the car and floss 1-3 times a day.

Brushing without flossing feels like having a bath with just water and no soap!

Eew, so you have big chunks of food between your teeth between flosses OP! That's gross. How do you sit like that all day? Eww.

I have flossed for about last 10 years and my teeth are so much better. When I started my gums bled and I couldn't get in between a lot of the teeth but this was because my gums were swollen. It took a lot of perseverance but now I can easily floss in between all my teeth as my gums are in much better health and no bleeding. Couldn't imagine going to bed not having flossed.

I was just wondering how anyone could possibly know who flosses and who doesn't, unless it's just amongst their cohabitants?

There's no direct link to bad breath, nor visible detritus.

My dentist advised against flossing as a lot of people harm their gums. He is a massive fan of interdental brushes. I have very closely packed teeth (small jaw) and the smallest size works. Mind you I don't find I get 'loads' of stuff out but it does help.

ODFOD. I've never flossed, can't get floss between my teeth, haven't needed anything done to my teeth in years, dentist has never suggested there was a problem, OP assures me my breath doesn't smell.

My dentist encourages it...

Flossing can do more harm than good:

medicineinfo.net/dental-floss-does-more-harm-than-good.html

My teeth are closer together so it when the floss does eventually get through, it rips my gums to shreds. I occasionally floss before I go to the dentist but mostly I don't bother.

I tried the interdental brushes and they don't fit either. Shame because they look nice

If you haven't got space between your teeth that is likely plaque, try to get referred to a periodontist (especially those with bleeding gums, this is a bad sign, you need to address it or you will eventually lose teeth)or for some extended hygienist visits. Then with perseverance you should be able to move up through the sizes of interdental brushes.

Given that flossing wasn't really mainstream until about 15 years ago, and given that many people over the age of 40-odd, say, still have all their teeth, I call bollocks on this "only floss the ones you want to keep" smuggery.

I floss because I like to and I'm slightly paranoid about my teeth. Although at the moment I have to use interdental brushes as I'm spending over £3000 on braces and they get in the way of floss a bit.