Healthy gums don’t bleed, and are not painful to floss at all.
I’m in my 30s and only recently learned flossing technique and got my gums healthy. Flossing used to take so long and always involved a lot of bleeding no matter how delicate I was.
These days I’m absolute savage with floss and interdental brushes and never have any blood or pain.
Once you get your gums healthy you’ll be disgusted at yourself for ever not flossing. The amount of disgusting I can floss out on an almost daily basis is insane.
Plus you’re breath will not smell gross anymore.
It’s worth committing to the habit of flossing. Trust me.
“Take care of your teeth” is my go-to “old person’s advice to young people.” Once you realize that dentists can’t really “fix” (as in permanently fix) most problems with your teeth (that you get one set for your whole life), that 5-10 minutes a day to take care of them doesn’t seem like so much.
Seriously, once you have a cavity, there’s a pretty good chance that tooth will eventually become a crown or implant. Once a tooth cracks, it will eventually get worse and have to go. Dentistry is mostly preventative, and for the most part they can really only apply a band-aid to serious problems.
Seriously please go to the dentist and take care of your teeth. My parents stopped taking me to the dentist when I was 16 and I didn’t return till I was 30. I had developed a massive anxiety over it and couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror because I was terrified to look into my mouth. I got off relatively lucky but for the love of God go to the dentist
This comment hit hard, I know that feeling of looking in the mirror and being afraid to open my mouth. I went yesterday for the first time in over 10 years. I felt so much shame and anxiety, I didn’t sleep well for 2 nights leading up to the visit, but boy do I feel better now. Considering it had been so long the news wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, and it was not as painful as i thought it would be (my last visit was not pleasant) Now that i’m over that hump, i’ll be going back much more frequently and will be more diligent with my oral hygene. I wish I had done it sooner. Seriously, for those in a similar situation, just go to the dentist and set things right before it’s too late.
Awesome job mate. I went through a similar stage with my depression. It takes courage to pull yourself out of situations like that so make sure you appreciate yourself.
Totally agreed. I got this advice to “Take care of your teeth” when I was 20. My professor just said “You’ll never regret it.” I took that to heart. Why wouldn’t I do something I’ll never regret!?
Pretty exciting though japanese researchers are doing human trials for medicine that blocks a protein that blocks a 3rd set of teeth from growing in, if that goes well we will probably have better teeth for longer time at least.
The best 3D printer we know of is biology. Until we can grow a new tooth from some science broth, prevention is imperative. Even once we do, it’ll take a while to catch up to nature.
That and for the price to come down to where mere mortals and/or folks with decent dental insurance can afford it!
Oh dear. How do I make my 13yo understand that, who doesn’t seem to care?
Show them pictures or videos of a root canal.
If you figure it out, tell the world!
Show them this video and tell them this is what happens when you neglect your teeths. https://libreddit.domain.glass/r/popping/comments/py6qlw/teeth_cleaning_i_feel_this_was_the_most/
Nearly nobody will get a mouth that bad if they at least care to look at their teeths from time to time and have a basic hygiene, both dietary and oral.
But to at least get them interested, this video does the work really well.
(The video shows removal of a massive plaque of tartar. So I don’t recommend anyone uncomfortable, with looking at the inside of mouths and with seeing some bleeding, to watch this video)
Yeah well, my teeth were so tight you couldn’t squeeze any floss through. My dentists generally refused to believe it and one insisted on demonstrating. After squeezing very hard, he finally succeeded getting the floss through, at which time the floss immediately broke. Zero flossing actually occurred, the dentist was embarrassed and confused, and pretended it didn’t happen, and made no comment about what else I should do, since I CLEARLY couldn’t floss. Only result was I had a piece of floss stuck, and It took me weeks to finally get rid of that frigging floss thread from between my teeth.
Quite frankly, I’m more than a little tired of reading mundane advise for people with normal teeth, who probably know this already.
Yes people who have ordinary teeth, can use this common and obvious advise.
Same - I could never understand interdental brushes. How the hell was I supposed to get that between my teeth when even I waxed floss won’t fit? So I gave up and now use an electric toothbrush +waterpick when I can be arsed. My dentist is more than happy so I guess I’m doing ok.
Agreed on the water pick. It’s really just a high powered stream of water, but not so powerful as to cut you. Although against delicate gums it may still cause bleeding like floss.
The bleeding goes away quicker with a water pick too
I later found out to flush thoroughly. It would have been great to have been advised on that 25 years ago, instead of the constant talk about flossing.
Flushing really is extremely efficient, I never tried a waterpick, but I’m guessing that’s even better.
What is flushing exactly? Is it just violently swishing water through your teeth? I do that and find it works better at getting stuff out than flossing most of the time.
Yes that’s basically it, you can get special mouthwash to use instead of water. that should prevent bacteria for longer. I generally just use water, but I do it each time I’ve brushed my teeth. And it really makes a difference.
I know someone who has this for decades, only to have it clear up - loosen up and become flossable - after they had their wisdom teeth removed.
same, and this will compound as less flossing leads to tartar build-up, which makes flossing/brushing even harder.
On another note, get a waterpick, its a life changer!
just got one last week after my dental hygienist recommended it. I love it! blasting that crud out is my favorite thing!
In case you (nor the dentist) haven’t tried, there’s also flat floss that’s like a strip of paper. Oral B Satin Floss is one that is available where I live. Hope it might be of help!
It was the flat one he used, and yes I’ve tries with the Oral B Satin too. Apart from not working for me, it doesn’t seem to be able to do much cleaning even if it did.
I flush or rinse whatever it’s called instead. That works fine for me.
My teeth are just really tightly togheter… I have absolutely no idea where an interdental brush would even go, it just bends and breaks if I try to push it between my teeth. Even getting the floss in there is already hard.
Waterpik m8
Yeah, I have right teeth and my dentist recommended a water pick. Works great but I still floss occasionally as I’m worried the water pick can’t get everything.
I also have tightly packed teeth and can barely use interdental brushes on just some of them. What works well however are dental floss sticks, you can get them with pretty thin floss(es?) and they’re way easier to use than plain floss.
Dental floss sticks are great, but I started to worry about the amount of plastic waste, so I switched to a floss holder. I use the toothbat, but there are others out there in the marketplace.
The only interdental brush I find I can use is Piksters. All the others bend so easily.
I wish they were cheaper.
Yeah the piksters ones are the way to go
my dentist recommends the waterpik instead of flossing, he says floss can damage tissue if this is the case.
I can get floss in between mine, but my dentist says that tighter together teeth get less food stuck in there (although I’m sure there are different levels where it can start to be bad)
Try the pink interprox ones. They are the thinnest ones.
Otherwise ask your dentist if they can show you how to use them. Just because your teeth are really tight together doesn’t mean that there won’t be any buildup of food or other things.
Oral b pro glide works well. Pay for the more expensive floss and you won’t have this issue as much.
There are other forms of flossing strings for this problem. Have the same problem and i would never go back to normal string again
Nah, it’s uncomfortable because my teeth are so tight, the floss can’t get through at the top. Even the dentists have issues when doing a professional cleaning. But I do make use of interdental brushes.
That said, another great reason to floss/brush between, is that when you don’t do it, the people at the dentist react as if you just killed a baby and then did a victory dance. It’s very uncomfortable ;)
the people at the dentist react as if you just killed a baby and then did a victory dance. It’s very uncomfortable ;)
I hate that!
They’ve got you strapped down into that chair naked with that thing in your mouth that forces you to smile while they all stare at you and chant “Shame. Shame. Shame…”
I really don’t know why I keep going back.
Leaving a comment, so that in 3 and a half years time when you develop a humiliation fetish, you can look back and think of me.
I don’t know where we’ll all be in 3.5 years but I know I’ll still think of you when I touch myself.
Beautiful, man. I’ll return the favour.
I really don’t know why I keep going back.
I think it’s because you like your teeth and deep down you know: So do they ;)
They’ve got you strapped down into that chair naked
Idk about you, but my clothes stay on at the dentist
Maybe they are seeing Dr. Spaceman.
I have the same problem and my hygienist has also said it’s difficult to floss my teeth. I rarely ever flossed. Then I got a water flosser and at the risk of sounding like an ad, it’s great. It’s not simply not bad; it’s actually pleasant. The next time I got my teeth cleaned after buying it, the hygienist said my gums were noticably healthier and she asked what I had done.
at the risk of sounding like an ad
Well, it’s working, I now want one ;) But having just looked at options, the choices and price ranges (20-120) confused me, and I’m mostly happy with interdental brushes, so I might just stay with them :D
I am unusual in that my teeth are very tightly spaced. An interdental brush is probably great for a lot of people, and I imagine it’s nicer than flossing if you can fit it between your teeth. I got a pretty basic $100 model. My only complaint is that it’s loud.
Maybe it’s time I got one of these. I forgot they even existed because everything just seems to be disposable floss these days. If I floss even gently my gums bleed so much I wake up with blood all through my mouth and throat. No matter how much I rinse.
Someone I know just got their teeth checked, first time in four years. The dentist was surprised at how clean and upkept their teeth were. They asked if he flossed his teeth and he said he has never done it in his life. They still shamed him.
It’s like dentist only know how to shame. I have yet to meet one that understands self-care is hard for people with ADHD/Autism. I’m doing by best and shame makes me give up.
Dental care is becoming a lot more compassionate with the newer generations of dentists. I’d recommend making a switch. Do a little shopping around and actually read the reviews on Google, etc. They’ll make it pretty clear who the good ones are.
I brush once in the morning and haven’t regularly flossed in years, somehow my teeth are in great shape. My dentist says I’m a freak of nature lol.
I have the exact same situation except I do it at night instead only once a day and my dentist (whom I really trust) says my teeth are better than 95% of people who walk into his office. Especially for my age… So yeah. Recently though I’ve been thinking I should at least start brushing twice a day if I am not going to floss at all.
Waterpiks are a godsend
Can’t overstate how great they are if you hate flossing.
I try to avoid waterboarding myself when I can.
Nice try dentist
Clearly Crentist at work.
Your dentist’s name is Crentist?
From many dental visits, pared down:
Brush light, floss hard. Some minor bleeding from flossing, weirdly, is actually ok. Just go easy on that spot until it’s not sore anymore, then ease into going hard again. These two things are mostly what will make getting poked with all that metal shit not bother you so much.
You only need to floss at night. You aren’t putting food in your mouth while you sleep.
Electric toothbrushes are legit improvements, not gimmicks. Get one if you can.
100xThis
My biggest impediment before to flossing was just the time it took. I always held off on flossing until the end of brushing, my “routine” was to brush, then floss, BUT oftentimes I’d just brush first, consider it good enough and then just skip the flossing because, hey I already brushed, I’m good, right? Mentally I was done with the whole thing as soon as I finished brushing.
So I switched the order around and I floss first now, which seems to work better. I’m not actually “done” with brushing until I brush, so once I floss I can’t just skip the brushing part. It’s a small change, but it’s helped me keep up a better routine.
I just grab a floss pick, go sit in front of my computer, and floss while distracting myself with something else. That way I don’t have to devote any focus or effort to flossing and it goes by much easier.
Same, floss at my desk on autopilot 99% of the time.
Picked up the habit during corona times.
I’m team subconscious flossing as well
I’ve done my best to make flossing with a pick a family affair while watching TV after dinner.
More or less works as routine for SOME PEOPLE who don’t enjoy dental hygiene lol.
A water flosser takes 30 seconds. (I’m in this thread shilling for water flossers.)
I like to use a floss pick, then waterpik, then electric toothbrush.
Floss, irrigate, then brush
This is the way
I have one sitting around, but I just really couldn’t get into it, it just felt so… unnatural. Maybe they’re supposed to be better than normal flossing, but it’s never felt right for me.
Best motivation to floss? Do it once and smell the floss string after, our mouths are truly vile.
It’s kinda disgustingly satisfying when you pull gunk out. Then to think I never used to floss and that gunk used to just stay there…. 🤢
I have never flossed regularly in my life because I can’t stand sticking my hands in my mouth.
My dental hygienist says I do an amazing job at flossing.
I use a water pik.
My dentist also told me I do a great job at flossing. I’ve never flossed or used a water pik in my life. I just nodded and quietly said “uh thanks”.
If I may ask, which water pik do you use?
I have the “waterpik water flosser” for myself, I’ve purchased the generic units off Amazon for friends and they seem to work just as well.
I’ve always hated flossing but the water pik is great… as long as the water is room temp. Horrendous when you accidentally fill it with cold water
Dentists here (UK) stopped recommending flossing years ago. IIRC they actively discourage you from flossing. Instead the recommend interdental brushes
This is news to me. My teeth are hella tightly packed tho.
Keeping a steady flossing habit has always been a struggle for me. This inspired me to give it another go. Thanks!
Do yourself a favour and buy some biodegradable floss picks. String is a fucking nightmare.
or drop the big bucks on a water flosser.
wow, didn’t know this was a thing. Now I have a journey to try to discover the best option out there and get it
I bought the Waterpik deluxe version a while go and have come to regret it. It works fine, but it’s noisy as hell. I’ve been told the Panasonic version is much nicer and quieter. I’ll be picking one up shortly because I don’t need a jackhammer sound in the bathroom every time I waterfloss my teeth.
Still, a water flosser is very much worth it. They clean well, and my dentist has remarked on how good everything looks with my gums when I’ve been using it regularly. Even if the Waterpik was all I could have, I would still keep using it despite the noise.
Yes!! I use a water flosser after normal dental floss every night and it often still gets bits that normal floss missed. That’s my motivation for doing it every night, just knowing those food bits are in there…
THIS
I actually asked my dentist about water flossing lately and she told me that in her experience it’s not as effective at preventing plaque, and recommended regular flossing.
But for regular, the little brackets with floss already on them work great, much better than freehand thread.
Any suggestions? I haven’t really liked the sticks I’ve tried
Floss picks, or floss sticks?
I use these ones: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cXwAAOSwkMhfKe5i/s-l300.jpg
I like these ones because they keep the floss tight for a long time. Other picks I’ve tried go flaccid mid clean. Nothing worse than a floppy pick in your mouth.
I misread pick as stick, none of the stick ones have been that great. I’ve also had bad experiences with limp picks so thanks for recommending some nice hard picks!
Of course, my pleasure! And now a nice hard pick can be your pleasure too. Just be sure you get it deep in there to get your back teeth, and remember to use the tip.
I have two permanent retainers in and I find flossing to be so difficult with it.
I’m also terrible with dental hygiene in general. I’m lucky if I remember to brush my teeth at least once a day.
Add a waterpik into the mix. It doesn’t replace actual flossing but can be really helpful as a supplement, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
I’ll look into that, thank you!
There’s floss with kind of a fishing line in one end of every ready-cut piece of strand. Oral B Super Floss is available where I live. You can use the rigid line to guide the floss under the retainer.
I didn’t realize how uncomfortable my gums were until I started flossing. Now, if I don’t floss for a couple days, it feels straght-up gross.
