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!!!

I floss, but I don't get random bits of food out from between my teeth. Just the odd bit of plaque. Are you sure you're brushing properly OP?

how can you say your dentist never mentions flossing if you're not there?
Obviously, he/she never mentioned to me. I thought that was obvious...

I have no idea why people on here are saying not to floss.

People are NOT saying not to floss. They are just responding to the rude OP about not flossing being gross. It looks like many of those who don't floss have healthier and cleaner mouths than the OP anyway.

But point taken from another pp. Maybe I'll pop in at the dentist some time soon and discuss my dental health just in case. It's possible they never did as they may have assumed I was over the top with the cleaning.

DrCoconut - iirc, I had an extra-long hygienist appointment and then after a couple of months of better dental hygiene my gums had totally settled down. Thankfully none of my teeth were loose, but I recall at my next dentist appointment I didn't have any 'pockets' greater than 3mm - and most were 2mm. (I'd had lots of 4s and 5s before)

Just stick with it, it does work!

My teeth are apparently very close together
(according to dentist/hygienists) but I can still floss and do so every night. I have to use the waxed dental floss though and be very careful.
I don't get loads of food out though. I think that is probably just you OP!

Pigletjohn sorry not to come back to you yesterday.

I didn't pick the best link so here is another who doesn't think flossing is a good idea - Professor Emiritus of Dentistry at Newcastle University:

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/flossing-teeth-can-do-more-harm-than-good-if-not-performed-correctly-expert-claims-a6696266.html

All about doing it correctly which many people find hard. I have very "tight" teeth and flossing is no good for me. I use an electric toothbrush most of the time.

That link is a shameless puff for a mouthwash sodabreadjam

"Using a mouthwash is going to be as good as flossing," he writes in the Daily Mail, "and as most also contain fluoride there are additional benefits in terms of protecting teeth from decay.

Another advantage of mouthwashes like Dentyl Active is that they stain the debris and plaque so when you spit the mouthwash out, you can clearly see what has been removed.

Said Prof Robin Seymour while doing a tap dance and holding out his hand for the cheque...

sodabreadjam It only (supposedly) does more harm than good if not done correctly. However it is better to do it correctly than not at all.
You probably can't floss your teeth because there is too much plaque between them. Can the hygienist or dentist do it after they have cleaned them?