Flossing

[privateporcupine]

Hello,

I really struggle with flossing (tight teeth and small mouth) to the point where I just don’t really bother. My last trip to the dentist freaked me out as she said I was on the verge of chronic gum disease. My gums had been bleeding a little. So she told me I needed to use the interdental brushes as flossing just wasn’t going to be enough.

I bought the smallest I could find 0.4ml, but I still really struggled and they just bend. My gums bled badly, which the dentist said they would.

In the meantime I had a specialist clean at the hygienist. She actually said I didn’t have too much build up, to which I said “Really? The dentist had me thinking I was on the verge of losing my teeth!” She laughed and said we were a long way from that.

I’ve given up struggling with the brushes, but my gums still bleed when I brush.

Would paying for a quarterly scale and polish help me, and negate the lack of flossing by me?

Or can anyone suggest anything else??

I really don’t want to lose my teeth. Obviously!

Thanks

Have you tried an airfloss? You put mouthwash or water in then and it shoots it between your teeth etc. I have tight teeth and can't fit brushes between them and this has really helped.

I don’t know the answer to this, but have a similar problem, in that my teeth are so close set I simply can’t get even the slimmest floss between them. If I really yank it in, it’s going down (or up) with such force it slices my gums, and on one memorable occasion I couldn’t get it back out. Tried an expensive water pick which was useless. My dental insurance entitles me to a hygienist visit every three months, and I just st get by with that and an electric toothbrush.

ilove yes, exactly the same as you. And some overlap, and I can’t get into the back ones without it hurting.

I will look up the airfloss, Tyrion. I’ve had that suggested before, but wasn’t sure how effective it would be and didn’t want to waste money on it.

Thought you meant Flossing from game Fortnite

I have the air flosser as I have retainer wires. I think it's great!

Are you a fan Flickety? I’ve got a 13yo superfan if you want one 🙄

Hi Op I have smallish gaps and some crowding. I see hygienist quarterly.

I love the Wilkinson sword floss sticks with the silk tape as opposed to stringy floss.

I'd certainly recommend those

I use little brush things I get in Boots - they are orange coloured.

I struggled with TePe brushes at first, but there seems to be a knack... Aiming the brush slightly downwards for top teeth and slightly upwards for bottom teeth seems to prevent accidental stabbing into gums! Once I persevered, my gums were in much better condition (no bleeding/soreness), too,

I have tight teeth and the only brushes that fit are ones that are rubber cones rather than bristles, I buy them from my dentist.....

I'll see if I can find a link somewhere

These ones

www.dentaldirect.co.uk/tepe-easypick-36-s-interdental-brush.html

They were on amazon too but I couldn't work out how to post the link from the amazon app!

Have you tried flossing tape? It's designed for teeth with no gaps. Slips easily enough in between mine. Have never understood how those interdental brushes could fit in there!

I've also had gum problems recently. I've been using corsodyl mouthwash on the dentist's recommendation, and also the TePe pick things. Can't get on with the little brushes. I think things have improved.

I don't trust the hygienist I went to last - basically told me everything fine, tried to up sell to some kind of water blaster thing, but told me I didn't really need it. She obviously didn't spot the problem which dentist now tells me was building up for sometime

The rubber easypicks are so much better than the wiry bristle picks.

Theses are great too

I have tight gaps between my teeth. My dentist showed me how to get the floss between my teeth. You have to slide it in using a side to side 'sawing' motion rather than just trying to slide it in.

I find using these dental floss picks easier;
www.ebay.co.uk/p/70-Dental-Floss-Sticks-Tooth-Picks-Teeth-Plaque-Remover-Interdental-2-in-1-UK/15012694239?iid=192383044323

But get the curved ones rather than the straight ones.

Waterpik?

With the tepe brushes the ones with the handles are much easier to use than the short ones but you can't get them everywhere - particularly if you are having trouble with them bending. They are called "Te Pe Angled" I think. These: -

smartdentalcarewholesale.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tepe-Angle.bmp

Have you tried a WaterPik? I have very terrible tease and I have a disability and a lot of trouble with oral hygiene in the first place. I can use my WaterPik quite well now, plus an electric to this for us, plus flossing etc. I can't floss very well, I have difficulty with Dexter Arity and Strank's, strength I mean and have taken out a filling due to flossing too hard. That's why I use the WaterPik as well

I have a small mouth & tightly fitting teeth - I use Oral B Satin Floss which is a ribbon rather than traditional floss & much slippier.

I have never understood what interdental brushes do. They certainly wouldn’t fit between my teeth anyway!

Waterpik is fab, highly recommend it!

Google ‘wisdom easy flosser’ , it’s a long handle with a clip in flossing head. Quite brilliant and you can get right to the back, I use that and the wisdom interdental brushes that are wire free as the teepee ones won’t fit between my tightly packed teeth. I buy all of this from the dental direct website.

I developed periodontal disease and had to have a deep root clean treatment and regular pocket checks. All is well now but I am meticulous about my flossing now.

Flossing does get easier op.
Have you tried the oral B tape floss?
Also sometimes I find it easier to get the little brushes in between 2 teeth from the other side iyswim? So if it won't go in from outside / in front of your teeth then try from inside, behind your teeth. Also use a new brush every time.