Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Do you floss?

Okay, TMI maybe, but how in the world does one floss in 2 minutes?


It takes me at least fifteen, to wrap the thread completely around each tooth and then to get between all of them. And I couldn't do it without a mirror!

Apparently I'm a super slow flosser.
 
Date: 6/6/2010 5:26:33 PM
Author: yssie
O... how in the world does one floss in 2 minutes?
It takes me at least fifteen, to wrap the thread completely around each tooth and then to get between all of them. And I couldn't do it without a mirror!
Apparently I'm a super slow flosser.
Click to expand...

+1.

Like anything you can do a thorough job, or not.

I think a 2-minute job would be better than nothing.
At least that would dislodge huge chunks of meat or popcorn hulls.
 
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!)
Click to expand...

Me too and now I''m a total nut because I brush, then floss, then brush again. DH says something about being OCD
20.gif
 
Date: 6/6/2010 5:28:20 PM
Author: kenny
Date: 6/6/2010 5:26:33 PM

Author: yssie

O... how in the world does one floss in 2 minutes?

It takes me at least fifteen, to wrap the thread completely around each tooth and then to get between all of them. And I couldn''t do it without a mirror!

Apparently I''m a super slow flosser.
Click to expand...


+1.


Like anything you can do a thorough job, or not.


I think a 2-minute job would be better than nothing.

At least that would dislodge huge chunks of meat or popcorn hulls.
Click to expand...

15 mintues?
6.gif


It probably takes me closer to five. I sometimes do a quick floss then go back through and do them again. I do each tooth more than once.. :)
 
I try to floss every day because I read that it adds years to your life!
35.gif
Good dental hygeine is also good for your heart. There is so much bacteria in the mouth; gum/dental issues have been linked to heart attack risks / heart disease. I like to floss while watching TV - it''s not always fun to remember to do it, but now it''s just part of my routine before bed.
 
Yes I do and faithfully.
 
I don''t floss every day or with some sort of schedule, but I carry floss in my purse and I would say I floss at least 5x a week (some days 2 or 3 times).
 
Do any of you use those dental brushes - those that go between teeth at the gumline? I keep one of those in my purse too but I find them too addictive.
 
Yes, every single day, DH does as well. I''m a pharmacist so I see a lot of elderly people on a daily basis. Looking at some of their teeth just makes me want to do my best to take care of mine so I can keep them and so they don''t look yucky when I''m older.
 
I''m a complete floss-aholic. I floss at least three times a day. Actually my routine is ACT prerinse, brush, floss, brush again, mouthwash. And I carry floss in my purse so I can floss after I eat whenever I''m out.

Growing up I never flossed. But a few years after we were married DH and I were having a play wrestling match and accidentally bumped heads. My front teeth went flying across the room. While waiting for my new teeth, I had to wear temporary flippers that were held in by denture adhesive. That experience scared me into flossing - no way did I want to lose my teeth and have to wear full dentures when I got older.

Plus my dentist says that brushing only reaches 60% of a tooth''s surface, 40% is only reachable by floss. Not sure how true that is.
 
Lilac,

Thanks so much for the info and link! Interesting to see that weight loss was a side effect for some people. I''d be okay with that, myself....
2.gif
As another clench/grinder, I''m also glad to hear that you can still wear a mouthguard at night.
 
Do any of you use dental picks or mirrors? My old dentist actually advised me to run a pick gently around my teeth and the gum line. Tried it a few times (and was grossed out at the sticky plaque that regular flossing did not pick up), but was afraid it would further recede my gums.
 
floss picks for those who find flossing difficult. I keep these (or another brand) by the bed and floss while watching tv before I fall asleep. My girlfriends use them while watching tv in the evening.

I floss each day.
 
Date: 6/6/2010 9:30:05 PM
Author: House Cat
floss picks for those who find flossing difficult. I keep these (or another brand) by the bed and floss while watching tv before I fall asleep. My girlfriends use them while watching tv in the evening.


I floss each day.
Click to expand...

I do this too right before I go to sleep! I use the brand Plackers or something like that. I have tight teeth so I get those because I stress out if the thread gets stuck in my teeth. The best part is that they sell them at several 99 cent stores. Every time I go, I buy 5 packs at a time. So worth it!
 
I LOVE to floss. Something about it is just sort of satisfying--like vacuuming when you can see a definite difference between the non-vacuumed carpet and the vacuumed carpet, or mowing the grass, or whatever. It just feels productive, ha!

Lilac mentioned earlier that some of us PSr''s have had braces and tagged me as one of them. It''s true, and although I didn''t get them until later in life (I think I was 28 when I finally had them installed, 31-ish when I had them taken off), I even flossed pretty regularly before the braces were put on. And since I had clear brackets on top and bottom, I had to be really careful about staining, and food in them, and flossing just naturally was something that HAD to be done so I''m very used to it.

It''s such an easy thing to make a habit of, if you can just get over that initial few days of bleeding gums. Take a roll of floss to work with you; keep one in your handbag/makeupbag/lunchbox. Heck, I''ve even stuck one in the console in my car before...that way you''re never without it. I also keep the little flosser-on-a-stick in a ziploc with me most of the time as well. It''s something that can be done in 30 seconds anywhere as long as you have a private moment.

My father was a smoker and a drinker; subsequentally almost all of his teeth fell out by the time he was 50. I refuse to let anything like that happen to me which is why in adulthood I''ve taken great pains and spent a ton of money to get my oral health in line. Even if my teeth had been perfect from day one, I still would be paying extra attention to them. They''re the only ones I want...I don''t want to be getting implants or dentures anytime soon if I can help it. I loves my teefs and gums!
 
Date: 6/6/2010 7:50:46 PM
Author: Bliss
I try to floss every day because I read that it adds years to your life!
35.gif
Good dental hygeine is also good for your heart. There is so much bacteria in the mouth; gum/dental issues have been linked to heart attack risks / heart disease.
Click to expand...

Now that I think about it, that makes sense.
If your gums bleed that is basically an opening in the circulatory system right at a location that is swarming with bacteria.

Good gum care keeps your circulatory system sealed.
 
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''ve had Invisalign and thought it was a wonderful solution for adults with crocked teeth. The disadvantages of loosing your aligners is something to consider for kids and teens. But adults rarely loose them and even if you loose one (my dog got a hold of one of mine) you usually can just move to the next aligner. It was no more painful than braces. Pressure on teeth is uncomfortable. But a new aligner was usually uncomfortable anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on the pressure. I had very crowded lower teeth and we got everything to line up perfectly. Of course a good orthodontist is the most crucial factor for any ortho work. While I had my aligners I brushed and flosses every time I ate. Now, not so much! But my teeth have stayed in a very good position for 2 years since I completed the program. It took me 2 1/2 years as I had one stubborn tooth. I highly recommend them.
 
I try to floss once a day. I didn''t have dental insurance and therefore didn''t go to a dentist for over ten years at least, so when I finally went back, it wasn''t so pretty. After having to have a debridement with zero anesthetic because my insurance wouldn''t cover it, I decided to take care of my chompers and avoid ever having that nightmare again! This reminds me; I have an appointment on wednesday. Argh.
 
Date: 6/6/2010 5:26:33 PM
Author: yssie
Okay, TMI maybe, but how in the world does one floss in 2 minutes?
It takes me at least fifteen, to wrap the thread completely around each tooth and then to get between all of them.
Click to expand...
23.gif
15 minutes? Every day? Wow, that''s commitment. I may start flossing regularly as a result of this thread, but I certainly don''t have 15 minutes a day to do it.
 
Every day for sure and sometimes 2 or three times depending upon what I''ve eaten. Food between my teeth drives me bonkers.
 
I use a Water Pik. Perhaps it's the lazy man's way of flossing but I love it. It actually massages the gums and gets all the crud out from between the teeth. Much easier than actually flossing. I also see a periodontist every 4 months for a deep cleaning as gum problems run in my family so I've been seeing a perio as a prophylactic measure for years now. They recommend the Water Pik as well.
 
THe whole family flosses everyday, including my kids since they got their first 2 teeth, and there''s a space between them. We use disposable floss picks (kinda like the second one Kenny posted, but with a toothpick onthe other other end. My cousin who is a dentist said the floss picks are kind of useless because you''re suppose to use a new length of floss for each tooth. Oh well, some flossing is better than no flossing in my book!
 
Never used to. Hated it. (still not my favorite, but my mouth is feeling better and very rarely bleeds anymore).


I don''t have dental insurance so hadn''t seen a dentist in 6-7 years. I used a Sonicare at least twice daily and flossed if I really had to.
Well...
After my mouth hurt so bad I couldn''t eat anything I decided to go to the dentist. Turned out I had an infection in the gums around one of my teeth (stupid wisdom teeth
38.gif
). An antibiotic cleared that up for now (still have to get it removed) but I''ve got more fun to look forward to.

I have to go in for a "deep cleaning" this summer/fall (after my wisdom teeth get removed and heal a bit). This cleaning takes about 4 hours. They literally stick something between your gums and teeth and sand down the roots of your teeth -- all while you are awake (numbed and maybe the gas). All of this without insurance. The "deep cleaning" alone is almost $900.

I''ll have insurance in just another 15 months but the dentist says it can''t wait that long. It is already affecting the bones and if it isn''t taken care of I will have "permanent bone loss"...


Needless to say, I am being extra careful to clean REALLY well every day.

My morning routine:
brush with Sonicare
follow with non-alcohol mouth rinse to reduce sensitivity & help with healthy gums

As needed through day:
brush
floss

Before bed:
brush with Sonicare
floss
WaterPic
quick brush with Sonicare
non-alcohol mouth rinse
 
Date: 6/6/2010 10:51:23 PM
Author: monarch64
I LOVE to floss. Something about it is just sort of satisfying--like vacuuming when you can see a definite difference between the non-vacuumed carpet and the vacuumed carpet, or mowing the grass, or whatever. It just feels productive, ha!


Lilac mentioned earlier that some of us PSr''s have had braces and tagged me as one of them. It''s true, and although I didn''t get them until later in life (I think I was 28 when I finally had them installed, 31-ish when I had them taken off), I even flossed pretty regularly before the braces were put on. And since I had clear brackets on top and bottom, I had to be really careful about staining, and food in them, and flossing just naturally was something that HAD to be done so I''m very used to it.


It''s such an easy thing to make a habit of, if you can just get over that initial few days of bleeding gums. Take a roll of floss to work with you; keep one in your handbag/makeupbag/lunchbox. Heck, I''ve even stuck one in the console in my car before...that way you''re never without it. I also keep the little flosser-on-a-stick in a ziploc with me most of the time as well. It''s something that can be done in 30 seconds anywhere as long as you have a private moment.


My father was a smoker and a drinker; subsequentally almost all of his teeth fell out by the time he was 50. I refuse to let anything like that happen to me which is why in adulthood I''ve taken great pains and spent a ton of money to get my oral health in line. Even if my teeth had been perfect from day one, I still would be paying extra attention to them. They''re the only ones I want...I don''t want to be getting implants or dentures anytime soon if I can help it. I loves my teefs and gums!
Click to expand...


I''m right there with ya, Monnie. I floss 2x a day, and my flossing addiction started with my braces. My ortho scared me into flossing religiously, and since I was a "responsible adult" I heeded his advice. Threading floss under metal wires is a PAIN! Once my braces came off it was so, so, so much easier to floss all of my teeth that it no longer seemed like a chore. I''m always amazed at how much gunk comes out when I floss- stuff that I didn''t even feel or notice. I cringe when I think about those food bits sitting in my mouth all day long. Yuck!
 
TP- Just wanted to give a word of warning about using an electric toothbrush (either spinning or sonic)- Make sure to let the brush to the work. Don''t use added pressure. You can wear down your enamel by doing that and it will certainly not help with sensitivity. Its hard not to want to brush with the sonic brush as you would with a manual (with added pressure) but move the brush over your teeth slowly to remove the plaque. I''ve been using an electric toothbrush for 4 years now and have to remind myself often about this!


To answer the question- I floss 1.5 times a day. At night I floss between all of my teeth. In the morning I pretty much only do the front ones. My front bottom teeth are pretty crowded so I need to get in there to remove food twice daily. I used to hate flossing and I always bled like crazy at the dentist during my twice annual cleanings. Ever since I started flossing daily I don''t bleed at all! Unless the hygienist gets me by accident.
 
Yes, I floss every day. My doctor recommended it when I was a teenager, as my teeth are apparently very closely spaced. I think it definitely helps a lot - whenever I for a cleaning the dentist comments on how clean my teeth are.
9.gif
If I don''t floss for a day or two, then food builds up between my teeth. I think that if I didn''t floss daily I''d have bad breath and lots of cavities, too.
 
This thread made me pull out the floss I keep in my desk at work. I floss in spurts...sometimes I get good and do it every day, and sometimes I go several weeks without doing it.

I read an interview with Liv Tyler once where she said one of the great things her dad taught her was to floss every day. It was a little gross, but she mentioned smelling the floss after you do it, and once you do that, you will think about how much better it is that you''ve cleaned that nastiness out of your mouth.
 
Date: 6/7/2010 1:03:28 PM
Author: Clairitek
TP- Just wanted to give a word of warning about using an electric toothbrush (either spinning or sonic)- Make sure to let the brush to the work. Don''t use added pressure. You can wear down your enamel by doing that and it will certainly not help with sensitivity. Its hard not to want to brush with the sonic brush as you would with a manual (with added pressure) but move the brush over your teeth slowly to remove the plaque. I''ve been using an electric toothbrush for 4 years now and have to remind myself often about this!


To answer the question- I floss 1.5 times a day. At night I floss between all of my teeth. In the morning I pretty much only do the front ones. My front bottom teeth are pretty crowded so I need to get in there to remove food twice daily. I used to hate flossing and I always bled like crazy at the dentist during my twice annual cleanings. Ever since I started flossing daily I don''t bleed at all! Unless the hygienist gets me by accident.
Click to expand...

1.gif
Thanks for the reminder. I''m very careful about this. I had some trouble adjusting when I first started using one but I''ve gotten much better now. I do still have to remind myself to just let it go for the full time and not be in a hurry -- it is usually when I am in a rush that I forget and start adding pressure.

My grandparents got each family a Sonicare for Christmas one year (I was 12? 13?) and I''ve been using one ever since. At the time I thought it was a little strange, but now I think it was great.
 
I just flossed!
9.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top