To ask whether you floss your teeth?

[Honeymint]

I just wanted to try a poll really.

Choose
YABU if you floss less than three times a week
YANBU if you floss more than three times a week

I used to floss (almost) every day but it was the first thing to go when I got pregnant as it made me feel so sick.
I mentioned this to a group of friends and none of them floss but they all seem to have perfect teeth anyway.
So I was wondering how common it actually is.

Do you guys floss your teeth? How often etc.

Every day without fail. I floss 6yo ds' teeth a couple of times a week too.

Yes, my dentist said over 40 it's so important to floss to prevent teeth from loosening up. It's all about the gums.

I was in pain with hot or cold drinks, I thought I needed a filling but she x-rayed and showed me a receding gum.

That was causing huge sensitivity so she said to floss at bedtime and use Sensodyne at night without rinsing.
I can tell the difference.

I never used to except before a night out, but then I got a bit of gum disease so now I do it every day, twice a day, and follow it up with the little brushes. My mouth does feel cleaner as a result, even though I cleaned my teeth thoroughly before.

Yeah every day. My teeth wouldn’t feel clean without flossing.

I use the little interdental brushes as recommended by my dentist
I didn’t need to when I was younger but didn’t realise how much difference aging would make and that your teeth still move around
Some of the gaps between my teeth are larger others smaller
One of my back teeth has rotated by 45 degrees and that makes it awkward to clean round - flossing or little brushes help with this

Yep, every night with the interdental brushes and a water pic. I always brushed my teeth twice a day and didn't have any problems until I hit 35 and lost a tooth as I wasn't brushing between my teeth.
Most people think their teeth are ok until you suddenly get a toothache and find your teeth are rotting from the outside in. Gum disease and bone loss are not good!!
Also I'd advise visiting the hygienist twice a year, it's equally or perhaps even more important than seeing an actual dentist.

I use floss and teepees. My bottom jaw started to really crown in my late 20’s and in late 30’svtge dentist said my gums were starting to recede and to use tee pees. It makes a big difference and I wish I’d been better educated on the importance of gum care at an earlier age!

YANBU. Yes, once a day but I didn't start doing it daily until I was in my thirties. It's the best way to prevent/halt gum disease and I eventually realised that it is far less work to floss once a day, than once a week.

If you are young and not flossing I absolutely guarantee that when you get into your forties you will have your ‘ oh I wish I had looked after my teeth’ moment. There are those lucky few who can get away with it but for most of us your gums begin to suffer with age.

It's not a very scientific poll as only people who floss can answer.

I agree with aloysiusflyte about visiting the hygienist regularly being very beneficial as well.

Yes, every night.
DH is a dentist and I've really upped my teeth cleaning since being with him.

I can't get on with floss. I would use the little flossy harp things, but the plastic waste put me off. I do like my water flosser, even though it isn't quite as good as flossing. However, it's fun and I enjoy using it, so it gets used more than floss would anyway and still does a good job.

Water pik, floss and interdental brushes twice daily.

I've had real trouble with gun diseases, so have to keep on top of it.

I've never flossed in my puff (I have fixed retainers that make it really difficult) and never had any issues at the dentist - my teeth are fissure sealed though

Yes, every day. I use soft-pics rather than floss. My back teeth are very close together so it’s essential for me.

I’ve started flossing recently because my gums do bleed a bit when I brush and I’ve been reading about a possible link between gingivitis and dementia

Oh and I can only use Oral B satin tape, can't do with stringy floss.

@Divebar2021

My teeth are pretty crowded and I’ve had lots of issues with cavities etc. I now use a water flosser which my dentist thinks is not as good as proper floss but which I find easier to navigate between the tight gaps. I think it’s better than not flossing at all which was what was happening. I use it everyday.

I never flossed before having braces as an adult and then bought a water flosser which I absolutely wouldn't be without now. It may not be perfect as a flosser but it gets done twice a day everyday so figure that has to be better than none or sporadic flossing. I also find if I use floss post water flossing and brushing there's nothing on the floss but brushing and then flossing and there's all kinds of junk on the floss so the water flosser seems to work pretty well.

Nowadays I try to do it often but due to disability the reality is I floss about a month every day or so before my next dentist appointment. I know they know but I do what I can.

I heard somewhere (possibly Radio4) that floss is something invented by the dental industry to make more money

My teeth are perfect, no fillings etc. My gums in the other hand are not. If I don’t floss I risk losing my teeth as the gums won’t hold them in. So I floss every day. Flossing is for gum health. Reducing gum inflammation is good for the body as a whole. Gum and heart disease are linked.

Yes. A friend has lost six teeth in the front of her mouth due to gum problems.

Barely ever floss, have perfect teeth with zero fillings. DP is the same.

I have a water flosser. I use it every day.