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!!!

Apple it is unnecessary

Discovering flossing and interdental brushes does make you a bit evangelical.

That said, though I recognise the stench of stale crap trapped in teeth, I probably wouldn't tell someone. I do cringe when I realise that I probably sometimes wafted that odour into my mid-20s. Which is more than 15 years ago.

IME your gums only bleed because you don't floss them. When you do, they quickly stop bleeding. And I have closely-spaced teeth. You can't fit the finest floss between your teeth only because there is too much rubble in there silting up the gaps.

For anyone who struggles with the floss sticking and becoming trapped or breaking apart, you may find a difference with dental TAPE. I have a couple of very tight spaces and regular floss just gets trapped then breaks off and stays in the gaps and drives me insane! Tape however, doesn't seem to do this and is removed intact.

I find tape better too for my closely-set teeth. I'm also all for own brands over branded products but Oral B is the best.

I bought Sainsbury's which was rubbish - it frayed and snapped. Superdrug isn't bad.

I would never have believed I would be rating dental tape...

YY to dental tape.

Don't see how discovering flossing makes one evangelical . My children go to a pediatric dentist and have their teeth flossed at every check up... (And at home, if I can get them to sit still for long enough.) It's just the norm here.

I also have the problem of floss snapping and sticking between teeth. The little teeny bottle brush things just bend and won't go in. The y shaped floss stick things work on front teeth but can figure out how to manoeuvre them into back ones. Put me in with the gross crowd.

If you haven't got space between your teeth that is likely plaque

I don't floss regularly.
I also only brush my teeth before bed.
My teeth are perfectly healthy.

No bleeding gums or bad breath.
When I do floss I can see nothing in the floss string. Because my teeth are so close to each other that not much gets in.
And sure, there are bacteria, but no amount of washing, brushing or flossing will remove them all anyway.

Yabu. Can one floss gums?

Don't see how discovering flossing makes one evangelical hmm. My children go to a pediatric dentist and have their teeth flossed at every check up...

You've just answered your own question. I'd been going to the dentist every six months since I grew teeth until at the age of 22 one said: 'You really should try flossing...'

It was a revelation.

But hats off to your children and their paediatric dentist. Dentistry really has come on since I started going in the 60s.

Demented I have narrow gaps and use the pink TePe brushes. There are narrower ones - red and orange, I think. Bend them a bit but not to a right angle. That makes them snap and get wedged between your teeth.

Pink are the smallest TePes.

There's no Flosser like a Johnny-come-lately Flosser.

Can't say as I've ever found chunks of food when I've flossed.

Ooh and avoid those little plastic things with floss on them, if your teeth are close together. Unless you actually enjoy sticking scissors into your mouth to chop your gnashers free. I know whereof I speak.

can one floss gums?

Kind of, in that you as long as you drag the floss gently down your tooth you can do gums.
There is like 1mm gap between teeth and gums atleast healthy ones.

I have perodontal disease, so water flossing is great to get into my gums and teeth as there are small pockets for food that floss string can't get to.
Sounds disgusting but I do manage to have good set of teeth!

Can't do it, it gives me goosebumps and not in a good way. Almost a phobia but not quite, but no, I don't floss because of it. When I've tried the sensation is just gross, I can't stand it.

Am probably just odd!

There's no Flosser like a Johnny-come-lately Flosser.

Same with reformed smokers I suppose. I don't know. I never smoked but I used to not floss. What does it matter? Is not every sinner who repents welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven no matter how long they have sinned?

I avoid handing out advice on dental hygiene unless people indicate they want recommendations, as some people have done on this thread.

They can tell me to bog off if they like.

I never flossed till started getting receding gums. Dentist told me to use interdental brushes and it's saved my teeth so I'm a convert. I don't think it's gross at all not to, but I'd never stop now.

Ok - it's 6.4 years not 7.
Not flossing leads to bacteria in the mouth and they lead to cardiovascular disease.
bytheseadentistry.com/time-flossing-add-life/

Have a OP & then enjoy flossing out any stray crumbs.

YABVVVVVVVU

I'm not gross, I'm disabled. If I had good enough use of my hands to manage to use floss or similar, the fragility of my gum tissue & my bleeding disorder mean that my gums would bleed. And bleed, and bleed, then bleed some more. In the same way they do if I accidentally brush a tiny bit too hard.

Because of my disability I have 6-monthly dental check-ups. My dentist doesn't think I'm gross. She's also the one who has said I'm not to even try flossing because I risk causing serious damage & infection. (She has given me a special small-headed angled brush so I can try to clean between the two front teeth on my bottom jaw that are pushed back & thus more awkward to clean.)

If you haven't got space between your teeth that is likely plaque

Nope. I just have incredible close together teeth. Dentist has commented on it. I had 8 out when I was 11 because my mouth was so packed.

So nope, I don't floss but have clean teeth and no bad breath

To start with the bacteria are already in the mouth anyway.
Not flossing doesn't give you bacteria.
Then, the link doesn't show one piece of hard evidence. Just opinions.
TBH, I couldn't care less about adding one year to my life. And 6 years is probably highly optimistic.
Particularly if I'm not at particular risk for heart disease.

I can recommend the WaterPik, if you have teeth too close together for floss it blasts all the bits out with a water jet, and is very satisfying. Also good for doing round the taps in the bathroom.

I find the Tepe brushes a bit fiddly.

But as for gross, no, clean teeth and nice breath is what you are aiming for in other people isn't it?

I've never flossed, am 42, never had any issues with my teeth, no fillings, no decay, nothing.

Logon - not plaque in my case. Just teeth thy are very close together - been like it since my brace came off when I was a teen.

I see a dentist and dental hygienist every six months. I have never had a filling and never had any issues with my teeth or guns at all, other than a brace as a teen.