Flossing

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: duragezic
Originally posted by: moshquerade
only floss the teeth you want to keep. :D
actually, i floss, brush AND i use a rubber tip http://www.saveyourteeth.com/images/Stimulator.jpg
What's the rubber tip stimulator for? :confused:

I can't use the disposable things because my teeth so are frigged up and close together that the floss would always come off the pole.

I do use regular floss a couple times per week.

here's a demo

http://www.expertvillage.com/v...are-gum-stimulator.htm

it is surprising how much plaque can still be on your teeth, especially at the gumline even after you think you've brushed/flossed well. using a rubber tip (gum stimulator) really ensures you'll have healthy, tight, pink gingiva. tight gums hug the tooth and don't allow bacteria to submerge and affect the bone underneath.
 

arrfep

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2006
2,314
16
81
Originally posted by: irishScott
Not really. Takes about 3 minutes or less. Suck it in. I do it every night.

That's what...oh, nevermind.
 

SViper

Senior member
Feb 17, 2005
828
0
76
I've started pretty much at the beginning of the year since I started dating my g/f. She's a Dental Hygienist with her specialty being Periodontal disease. After listening to her explanation and looking it up on wiki, I religiously floss and brush every day now.
 

wwswimming

Banned
Jan 21, 2006
3,695
1
0
Originally posted by: moshqueradeit is surprising how much plaque can still be on your teeth, especially at the gumline even after you think you've brushed/flossed well. using a rubber tip (gum stimulator) really ensures you'll have healthy, tight, pink gingiva. tight gums hug the tooth and don't allow bacteria to submerge and affect the bone underneath.

hey that's dentist-speak !

mesial distal lingual buccal,
i like ATOT'ers who make me chuckle !
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: moshqueradeit is surprising how much plaque can still be on your teeth, especially at the gumline even after you think you've brushed/flossed well. using a rubber tip (gum stimulator) really ensures you'll have healthy, tight, pink gingiva. tight gums hug the tooth and don't allow bacteria to submerge and affect the bone underneath.

hey that's dentist-speak !

mesial distal lingual buccal,
i like ATOT'ers who make me chuckle !

furcation, frenum, stipling, carious lesion, calculus, and retromolar pad

;)

 

LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
1,285
0
0
I don't floss. I brush twice a day and use Listerine twice a day. I get cleanings every 3 months at the dentist (zero copay on my insurance). Cleaning takes like 20 mins tops, I usually go on a Friday during my lunch hour.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: LS8
I don't floss. I brush twice a day and use Listerine twice a day. I get cleanings every 3 months at the dentist (zero copay on my insurance). Cleaning takes like 20 mins tops.

every 3 months is excessive unless you have gum disease or mod-severe staining.

do they polish your teeth every time? prophy paste is abrasive. i wouldn't want it used on me every 3 months. as it is, every 6 months, i make sure they use fine grit paste on my teeth.
 

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
0
i dont bother with listerine. floss & gum line cleaning & tongue sweeping is way way way more effective than swishing around alcohol water. plus, when i sip whiskey, it should have the same effect
 

LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
1,285
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
every 3 months is excessive unless you have gum disease or mod-severe staining.

do they polish your teeth every time? prophy paste is abrasive. i wouldn't want it used on me every 3 months. as it is, every 6 months, i make sure they use fine grit paste on my teeth.

I say every 3 months as a general number, but it's more than twice a year, maybe three times a year.

I really don't know if they polish them or not, how can I tell? I know the Dentist uses his little dremmel tool (for lack of a better term) and gives everything a pass. I am always billed for "cleaning" only and the insurance picks it up.
 

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
Originally posted by: LS21
disposable floss sticks rock... they dont tear up... your hands dont smell like rotten-teeth... they make it easy to reach... i enjoy flossin with it

 

wwswimming

Banned
Jan 21, 2006
3,695
1
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: moshqueradeit is surprising how much plaque can still be on your teeth, especially at the gumline even after you think you've brushed/flossed well. using a rubber tip (gum stimulator) really ensures you'll have healthy, tight, pink gingiva. tight gums hug the tooth and don't allow bacteria to submerge and affect the bone underneath.

hey that's dentist-speak !

mesial distal lingual buccal,
i like ATOT'ers who make me chuckle !

furcation, frenum, stipling, carious lesion, calculus, and retromolar pad

;)

it's a 2 surface LO composite and this patient is rich.

the patient has requested, no dam.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: moshquerade

furcation,

Sounds like a term that furries would use.

I floss, but it's super annoying. I have very close-spaced teeth, and almost once a week the floss will actually get stuck when I try to pull it out and tear into two pieces, leaving a little bit of floss-material between two teeth...uncomfortable, annoying, and almost impossible to get out. I still do it, though, because I already have a mouth full of metal.:(
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: wwswimming
Originally posted by: moshqueradeit is surprising how much plaque can still be on your teeth, especially at the gumline even after you think you've brushed/flossed well. using a rubber tip (gum stimulator) really ensures you'll have healthy, tight, pink gingiva. tight gums hug the tooth and don't allow bacteria to submerge and affect the bone underneath.

hey that's dentist-speak !

mesial distal lingual buccal,
i like ATOT'ers who make me chuckle !

furcation, frenum, stipling, carious lesion, calculus, and retromolar pad

;)

it's a 2 surface LO composite and this patient is rich.

the patient has requested, no dam.

I learned it to be said occlusolingual or OL, not LO, but I guess it means the same.
Make sure the dam is non-latex and force the patient to have it. :D
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: moshquerade

furcation,

Sounds like a term that furries would use.

I floss, but it's super annoying. I have very close-spaced teeth, and almost once a week the floss will actually get stuck when I try to pull it out and tear into two pieces, leaving a little bit of floss-material between two teeth...uncomfortable, annoying, and almost impossible to get out. I still do it, though, because I already have a mouth full of metal.:(

the furcation is a place between the roots of a tooth. if you get involvement there it's trouble.

http://www.dimensionsofdentalh...5_May/Features/26c.jpg


have you tried GLIDE floss? i find it doesn't shred like the others.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: moshquerade

furcation,

Sounds like a term that furries would use.

I floss, but it's super annoying. I have very close-spaced teeth, and almost once a week the floss will actually get stuck when I try to pull it out and tear into two pieces, leaving a little bit of floss-material between two teeth...uncomfortable, annoying, and almost impossible to get out. I still do it, though, because I already have a mouth full of metal.:(

the furcation is a place between the roots of a tooth. if you get involvement there it's trouble.

http://www.dimensionsofdentalh...5_May/Features/26c.jpg


have you tried GLIDE floss? i find it doesn't shred like the others.

The problem isn't flossing itself, it's getting the floss between my teeth into the area where it's supposed to work (and getting it back out again afterwards...although I suppose for that part I could just release one side and pull through). I'll look into that GLIDE stuff.