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Do you floss?

Sabine

Sabine

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
3,445
Wish I knew how to make a poll, I''d like to see how often people floss!

I never used to except for a day or two before a dentist appointment, but I didn''t have dental insurance in college and didn''t go for a few years, and my gums started majorly receding even though I never had any cavities or anything like that. So after going back, I tried to keep up, but found myself only flossing once every other week or so.

Lately, I started flossing the month before my dentist appt, and I''ve been trying to be even more regular since. I''ve been able to keep up with every other day or so.

My dh almost never flosses.
 
Every two or three days. I like to take my time doing it, and I just don't have the time every day! I'm also a compulsive brusher and must brush after eating or drinking anything other than water.. I've never had any cavities or gum issues. Hope it lasts, I have a five year old's distaste for the dentist
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I went in for a cleaning 6 months ago, and ended up having work done on several cavities.
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Since then I've been flossing-- not quite every day, but more often than before.

I've also started using a fluoride rinse 1-2x/day, though I often forget and skip a day. ACT actually makes a fun version that's got me hooked-- You squeeze the bottle to fill the neck of the bottle with the proper amount. Then you simply swig the bottle, and only the proper amount drains into your mouth! Nerdy, I know, but this is the kind of thing that gets me excited.
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Every night before bed. I hate it, but I do it anyway.
 
I hated to floss because it was a blood bath! and had to see the hygenist every 3 months just to try and keep my teeth because of gum disease. I also have lichen planus in my mouth and lots of toothpaste irritated my gums as well as mouth wash with alcohol. Then, I tried the water pic and I have to tell you in a couple of weeks, the changes were amazing. Improved my gums so much my dental hygenist only needs to see me every 6 months, now I can floss or water pic and no more blood bath.. If you hate to floss and have gum disease, buy the water pic!
 
I floss and brush religiously before bed every night.
I never stand at the mirror to do it; that would make it an annoying chore.
I read PS when I floss.

Ignore your teeth and they''ll go away.
 
I never used to floss but then I started my Invisalign and was told I''ll get 100 cavities if I don''t (clearly an exaggeration, but I guess the threat worked!) I started flossing every night and now I actually like when I do. My teeth feel cleaner. When I started, my gums would bleed, but now they stopped. My problem is I can''t floss back where my molars are because I can''t open my mouth wide enough (TMJ makes my jaw hurt too much to open so wide). So I floss as far back as I can, but I wish I could do more.
 
I floss every day, religiously. DH does too.
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Date: 6/6/2010 1:53:46 PM
Author: Lilac My problem is I can't floss back where my molars are because I can't open my mouth wide enough (TMJ makes my jaw hurt too much to open so wide).
So I floss as far back as I can, but I wish I could do more.
Click to expand...

Maybe try a floss holder.
There are many different designs.

0flossholder.jpg
 
I used to only do it about once a week, but I have sitched to eating apples with peanut butter for breakfast and the skin often get stuck in my teeth, so about every other day now.
DH never does and it drives me nuts because he didn''t get proper dental care for most of his life so he needs to be extra careful. I had a waterpik as a kid that I loved.
I get canker sores about every 2 months, and depending on the location I often can''t floss during that time.
 
I probably average 4-5 times a week. We keep the floss in a basket on the coffee table, and use it when we watch TV. This was advice a dental hygienist gave me once and it works pretty well. (Also keep rubber workout bands there so I can try to get some exercise in while watching TV!)
 
Date: 6/6/2010 2:00:30 PM
Author: kenny
Date: 6/6/2010 1:53:46 PM

Author: Lilac My problem is I can''t floss back where my molars are because I can''t open my mouth wide enough (TMJ makes my jaw hurt too much to open so wide).

So I floss as far back as I can, but I wish I could do more.
Click to expand...

Maybe try a floss holder.

There are many different designs.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. maybe I''ll have to try that. Thanks for the suggestion, kenny!
 
I usually floss 5 times per week. I used to hate doing it. Now I can''t imagine not doing it! On the bright side, your gums eventually get used to it and stop bleeding.
 
Date: 6/6/2010 1:53:46 PM
Author: Lilac
I never used to floss but then I started my Invisalign and was told I''ll get 100 cavities if I don''t (clearly an exaggeration, but I guess the threat worked!) I started flossing every night and now I actually like when I do. My teeth feel cleaner. When I started, my gums would bleed, but now they stopped. My problem is I can''t floss back where my molars are because I can''t open my mouth wide enough (TMJ makes my jaw hurt too much to open so wide). So I floss as far back as I can, but I wish I could do more.
Click to expand...

Lilac,
I''m also thinking of Invisalign, but I''m worried about receding gums and weakened teeth. Care to share your thoughts on Invisalign? Any drawbacks or "I wish I''d known about...." realizations?
 
Ok, Sabine. This thread prompted me to get out of bed for a nice floss and rinse. Thanks!
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Date: 6/6/2010 2:25:08 PM
Author: blingbunny10
Care to share your thoughts on Invisalign? Any drawbacks or ''I wish I''d known about....'' realizations?
Click to expand...

This Wiki article has advantages and disadvantages of Inisalign. click
 
Date: 6/6/2010 2:31:56 PM
Author: kenny
Date: 6/6/2010 2:25:08 PM

Author: blingbunny10

Care to share your thoughts on Invisalign? Any drawbacks or ''I wish I''d known about....'' realizations?
Click to expand...


This Wiki article has advantages and disadvantages of Inisalign. click
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, Kenny! I''ve actually done a fair amount of internet research and talked to my dentist, but I was hoping to get some personal "real life" input.
 
Every day...

I feel weird when I don't...

Every time I do it I think about how that stuff could be in my mouth if I didn't take it OUT...
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so that helps me stay motivated

ETA: yes, just like swedish bean, sometimes twice a day, depending on what I ate...
 
I do floss somewhat regularly... I sort of go in spurts. For a few weeks I do it religiously, and then kind of fall of for a while, and so on.
 
Every day. Sometimes twice a day ;)

I also have never had a cavity!
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Date: 6/6/2010 2:25:08 PM
Author: blingbunny10
Date: 6/6/2010 1:53:46 PM

Author: Lilac

I never used to floss but then I started my Invisalign and was told I''ll get 100 cavities if I don''t (clearly an exaggeration, but I guess the threat worked!) I started flossing every night and now I actually like when I do. My teeth feel cleaner. When I started, my gums would bleed, but now they stopped. My problem is I can''t floss back where my molars are because I can''t open my mouth wide enough (TMJ makes my jaw hurt too much to open so wide). So I floss as far back as I can, but I wish I could do more.
Click to expand...

Lilac,

I''m also thinking of Invisalign, but I''m worried about receding gums and weakened teeth. Care to share your thoughts on Invisalign? Any drawbacks or ''I wish I''d known about....'' realizations?
Click to expand...

I love it. I am so unbelievably happy I did it. I spent months doing research, reading up on it online, going back and forth about whether or not to spend the money (because it definitely isn''t cheap) but I am SO happy I went through with it! I''m on my 9th tray out of 11 on top and 9th out of 12 on the bottom. I''ll probably need a couple more afterwards to make everything "perfect" but I''m on track to finish much sooner than I even expected and I''m so thrilled with the progress so far. My confidence is so much higher than it was before I started the Invisalign!

Monarch (who had regular braces I believe), Hawaiianorangetree, puppmom, swingirl, and some others also gave me advice when I was considering it and I found their advice to be really helpful. There are some old threads about it if you do a search. Here was the one I started - https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/invisalign.133291/

I haven''t noticed any receding gums or weakened teeth, but I haven''t finished yet so I don''t really know if I''ll have any issues when all is said and done. So far the only thing I''ve noticed is straighter teeth! The one thing I wish I had known was how much my TMJ would bother me when I switched from my nightguard to the Invisalign trays (but I would have gone through with the Invisalign anyway so I guess it wouldn''t have mattered much). Other than that, I''m really happy with all of it! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me!
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DAILY! Several times a day....I''m OCD about it, actually. I can''t stand the feeling of having food stuck in my teeth...YUK! I have floss all over my house and in my purse, car, etc.
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Also, my teeth require lots of TLC because they are "soft" and I have to be very careful with them. I inherited my dad''s teeth and he lost his in his early 20''s.
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Lori
 
Every night. I use disposable floss sticks, sensitive [pink] ones are very gentle on my gums, love them.
 
Usually everyday.
 
I average 5-6 times a week, before bed. I try to do it every night (because I know it's important), but sometimes I just don't feel like it.
 
Wow, you guys are inspiring. I very rarely floss... I know I am supposed to but... I forget.

On the plus side, I don''t even have a single cavity and I''m almost thirty, so I think in general my teeth are a-okay.
 
Teeth are obviously important but the importance of healthy gums is rarely mentioned.
Unfortunately people measure their oral health by how many cavities they get.
You can get no cavities for years without flossing but there is a silent monster growing in every mouth, even cavity-free mouths, even George Clooney's.

The main cause of tooth loss later in life is not tooth decay/cavities; it is gum disease.

The gums (along with the bone of the skull and jaw) hold the teeth.
When gums get diseased they lose their grip and let go of the teeth.

Gum disease is not something in poor countries, or something homeless bums have.
I believe the majority of Americans have gum disease.
I believe if you don't floss daily you have it.

24 hours a day bacteria is getting deep below the gum line between your teeth and the gums, where a tooth brush or even a water pick are less effective than flossing.
If this bacteria is not removed every day sticky plaque forms.
In time pockets of pus form and grow.
Hello Gingivitis. Hello bleeding during flossing.

The gums react to plaque and pus by pulling away from it (and the teeth).
Over time this pulling-away gets deeper and deeper.
Eventually gums let go; the teeth become loose and fall out.

Unfortunately it takes decades for the teeth to fall out so people do not make the connection between daily flossing and tooth loss.

So when you see your dentist/hygienist ask how healthy your gums are and how you can better maintain them.
My hygienist measures and tracks the depth of pockets around each tooth over time.
If one gets deeper she'll tell me to floss better there.
Next visit it is not as deep.

If you want to wear dentures later, don't floss.
Yes, heredity is a factor, but it is not an excuse for making a bad thing worse by neglecting your gums.

Sorry I'm so preachy but gum-education is just so rarely heard for how important it is.
 
Thanks, kenny! That was educational. I''ll try to floss more often!
 
I floss every day. I used to just do it occasionally. I was at the dentist''s office for a cleaning and the hygienist asked "how often do you floss?" I said "oh, maybe every other day." She said "you should do it every day. You wouldn''t brush your teeth every other day, would you?" For some reason that really struck me. Eew. No, I wouldn''t brush every other day. So I think about that every night before I go to bed. I mean, how long does it really take? A minute? Two?

So, yes. I floss every day.
 
Everyday!
 
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