Flossing and crowns

[CleanandJerk]

I have crowded teeth and due to a series of poor genetics and circumstances (neglect, tetracycline as a child) my teeth decayed easily and were filled to the brim. I'm now at the age where most teeth will need crowns and have four currently.
I always had some difficulty flossing due to my tight teeth and used to use oral b tape. My dentist told me to use the smallest teepee brushes (the pink ones) on all my teeth preferably but particularly on my crowns (I've been told not to use floss on my crowns). I cannot manage them at all; I find them impossible to use.
My latest crowns are two joined together with a little gap in between to allow for flossing, like a natural shaped tooth (my teeth were too weak and broken so it was decided to join them) but I don't think I'll ever be able I use the teepee on it. I asked my dentist and he said try superfloss only on this case but the teepee everywhere else.
I just can't manage the teepee. I find it difficult to get between teeth, it can be difficult to get out, most times I can't use it. It doesnt help that my fine motor skills are not great.
Any advice? How do you floss around your crowns? I get on ok with the tape but if I can only use teepee I'll never floss.

I have lots of crowns and use teepee brushes not floss. I can see how floss could get caught between them. How about using those plastic pointed tooth pick things ? They can get into small spaces or a small brush www.dentaldirect.co.uk/tepe-compact-single-tuft-toothbrush.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwx9_4BRAHEiwApAt0zqBMzZHpoVCa44W4MCMse_mtAd_UMU5FocYJa9TKhmfYuSK3hl6mCBoCMXUQAvD_BwE

The small brush might work. I just find it difficult to get the teepee in, if that makes sense? I may try the fully plastic ones too. I'm quite clumsy so find them tricky. Thank you.

I too had the same problem. My dentist recommended the floss picks. They’re great. I found tape and brushes too thick and they stuck between my tooth and crown. You squeeze the picks and the pressure releases.

Thank you Kazza446 but I tried floss picks before I got any crowns and i couldn't manage. My teeth are so compact that i even had difficulty with ordinary floss but the oral b tape works really well, it just glides.
I really struggle with the teepee.

Maybe try a Waterpik? Not as good as manual methods but better than nothing.

That's worth looking at, thank you.

Hi, I have similar problems as my teeth have no gaps between them at all and have to floss around 2 crowns. I use tape as can't use normal floss. My dentist told me to gently pull the tape out horizontally instead of pulling it up like I do with other teeth, as not to risk dislodging crowns.... Not sure if that makes sense but it's worked for me for the years I've had them.

I can't use interdental brushes at all. Even the smallest are impossible to use with no interdental space!

Thanks Faelavie. That's exactly what my teeth are like! Before crowns I had to use tape as floss wouldn't go down/got stuck!
I mentioned it to my dentist as he told me to use teepee but I said I could never manage anything but tape: he said I was not to use floss, only teepee and was a bit cross about it. Plus I often struggle with fiddly things and I just can't get the teepee to work. Even the thinnest wont go in.
Can I ask how do you get the tape in between your teeth? I have to slide it down, is it ok to do that? I understand how to pull it out horizontally, thanks for explaining.