I hate flossing.
Hate it.
That’s why for the first 25 years of my life I rarely did it. I would always floss for a week or so after dentist appointments then I would stop. Then there was that two year period where I couldn’t afford to go to the dentist and didn’t floss at all. Oopsies.
My last dentist visit showed me the error of my ways and yesterday when I visited a new dentist that was confirmed.
Basically I learned that without flossing my gums could swirl into gum disease leading to gum surgery and a whole lot of hurt if I didn’t step it up and floss every freaking day. Also, cavities between teeth form without flossing. Yikes! There are so many things that flossing can prevent that there is no reason not to floss every day.
I’m going to try yet again to floss every day. So far I’ve been doing okay with the habit. I’ve found that keeping dental floss in multiple different places helps me floss more often because I’m more likely to have it on hand when I think about it.
Benefits of Flossing
Flossing is great because:
- it removes bacteria and food (yuckies) that gets between your teeth
- it helps prevent periodontal (gum) disease
- it helps prevent cavities between teeth
- it helps stop nighttime snacking
The last one is a nice side benefit.
Since I’ve been flossing at night I’ve not been eating as much. Once I’ve flossed I’m definitely not doing it again so I’m much more able to resist even the yummiest treats. In my mind I simply can’t go to bed without flossing now and once I’ve flossed my mouth is closed to food. It’s that simple. Nothing has worked so well before. As long as I floss early enough I’m good for the night.
Best Dental Floss For People Who Hate Flossing
If you generally hate flossing, try using Glide PRO-HEALTH Comfort Plus Dental Floss.
Glide PRO-HEALTH 
I asked my dentist friend if it was a quality floss since I was curious what kind of dental floss my friend would recommend professional. He said that he has used this particular kind of dental floss and liked it a lot. I don’t think it’s what he gives out at his office but it’s definitely gotten his seal of approval in my mind.
The biggest seal of approval is that I’m still using it! I hate flossing and dental floss but I seem to find this kind easier to use. The design makes it slide a lot easier and the lack of resistance makes it feel so much better when flossing.
Do you floss? Daily? When you remember? Does it stop you from mindless snacking as well?
I hate flossing and now this post scares me because I’m scheduled to see the dentist on Monday after not going for 2 years (insurance issues & no $$$). I usually only floss about once a month. A couple of years ago, our dentist told me he prefers his patients to use a waterpik instead of thread floss because he feels it does a better job. Maybe I’ll try that.
I started flossing daily when I couldn’t afford to go to the dentist. Now it’s a habit so I only skip it if I ran out of floss.
I won’t eat again after flossing either. I could see brushing again but not flossing. So once I’ve done it I won’t eat anything else. Not to say that I haven’t been tempted but not enough to give in and have to floss yet again.
Flossing works SO WELL for making me stop eating afterwards. I hate to floss twice so if I flossed I just refuse to eat again.
About 2.5 years ago I was diagnosed with periodontal disease. I had also had multiple new cavities every single time I went to the dentist (every 6 months). After being told my gums were receding and all my teeth would fall out, I did not go back to the dentist for 2+ years. When I went the last time, I had a tiny cavity I did not get filled. Right around the same time, I switched to a flouride-free toothpaste. The cavity I had did not grow (so small it was filled without meds), and my gums are in better shape when I recently went to the dentist. I still don’t floss unless there’s something obvious in my teeth because I hate the feeling of it, but switching toothpastes has worked wonders on the health of my mouth.
Interesting! I probably should investigate which toothpaste I should use. I usually go the cheapest option route but maybe that’s not so smart considering I ALWAYS have cavities when I go to the dentist.
The improvements I have seen since switching are fantastic, but the downside is fluoride free toothpastes tend to be EXPENSIVE! We use Kiss My face brand, which if you can find it, is cheapest on Amazon.com in the six-pack. The health food store here carries it, but its about $6 a tube.
Most of my life i did not floss, and the dentist had been yelling at me more and more each time i went, saying i didn’t floss and how horrible it was for me that i did not. i kept saying i would, but somehow i did not. then i saw on the office, when michael scott said he made a new year resolution to floss, and he hates flossing, but he just did it. so i thought i will too. and i did. now my teeth feel dirty if i don’t floss them every morning and my hygentist said good job on the last time i went to the dentist. :) it still seems gross though.
Mary, if you recall all my dental posts & all the probs I am still fixing AND I did what I was supposed to do INCLUDING flossing so…. I do it all! Takes me 10-15 minutes to clean the teeth at night & no way I am eating anything after that! In fact, I do it early enough so if I am tired, all that work does not wake me up before bed time! ;)
Was interested to rid your blog about flossing..I too was a non flosser, until i discovered that I now have major bone loss due to the non flossing. Which leads to tooth loss. Nothing can reverse this. Sooooo…Floss, Floss, Floss!!! Everyday….
I wish I had paid more attention to flossing when I was younger and I wouldn’t have the issues I have now.
I’ll admit I’m pretty bad about flossing but I’m trying to get better especially as I get older and I’m not as stupid about it. I have a great smile (one of the few compliments I can give myself) and I don’t want to lose it or end up with dentures in my old age.
I was always bad at flossing, if I remember correctly, as a teen I didn’t do it at all and the last years I have done it very sparsely very seldom (and now I’m 26). The last year I have tried a little more, but it was until I recently started oil pulling that I started to floss regularly. And the reason why is very simply, when I read up on oil pulling, every site told me that before oil pulling, floss and brush your teeth carefully. So I read up on how to floss properly, and now I’m doing it at least very morning that I oil pull. Try to do it before bed to, but I don’t always have the energy. And yes, I have to google how to floss, because no dentist actually never told me _how to floss_, just told me I should do it. Though no one ever yelled at me for not doing it, I have been using and electric tooth brush for years, maybe that why…
My first job was in a dental office, and the dentist would always say “You don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep”. I always thought that was pretty funny, but I had bad follow through on the actual tooth flossing. I’ve tried to get better about it.
That’s an awesome saying. Haha.
I’m another reluctant flosser. :-) Mostly laziness.
Had to go back and read your older posts to figure out why you were in a new apartment with nothing in your kitchen and if you were close to me, I’d bring you some of my extras! Not close enough. :-) (I have so much crap, I’m getting rather embarrassed about it!) Anyway, welcome back to the states, hope you get all fixed up and settled in soon. Wish I could send you some of our overflow! I’m getting the urge to declutter and it’s not even spring!
Im a super flosser ONLY because I saw my mom be one too and STILL HAVE HORRIBLE GUMS.
nothing motivates like fear (of oral surgery…)