YSK: Flossing your teeth is only uncomfortable when your gums are unhealthy
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.
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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.