To Floss Or Not To Floss

[TheGardener]

I had poor dental habits, until I ran into needing numerous filling in my twenties. These days I religiously floss once a day and brush 2 to 3 times a day. My visits to the dentist for the most part are for a cleaning and a checkup.

I just read this article on flossing. It casts doubts on the benefits of flossing. I'll keep doing it, so long as I think it works against plaque buildup.

http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/health/2016/08/medical_benefits_of_dental_floss_unproven

I alternate between using J&J Dentotape and Dentek individual sticks. I've tried several brands, but only the Dentek sticks don't break when I floss. The worst were made by Oral-B. I used about 10 sticks, got frustrated and tossed the rest out.

repost: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2482067

 

[ImpulsE69]

I can tell you first hand that flossing at the very least prevents tarter build up, so there's less annoying scrapy scrapy when you visit the dentist.

I tend to not floss much because my teeth are so tight together, and I always hear about it from the dentist. When I do make a habit of flossing, it shows.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Really?

 

[Mayne]

I havent seen a dentist in 40 years.

 

[Mayne]

currently running the tip of my tongue over the massive crater jagged edges of my back molar.

 

[Newbian]

Brush twice a day and floss once is what I do.

I don't care to use the plastic strips as it's so much waste and find floss much easier to use with your fingers like this stuff as the normal round floss is too thick for my teeth as they are tight and much nicer on your gums:

 

[Jeff7]

Really?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2482067

 

[Red Squirrel]

While it is advised to do it each day I just find it so tedious and when I'm tired, or come home from night shift, that's the last thing I want to do. So I tend to do it maybe several times a month. It at least helps get rid of the worse build up, and so far so good. My biggest thing was Pepsi, I recently greatly reduced how much I drink, and when I do drink it I try to drink water or rinse my mouth right after I'm done. The acid/sugar just sitting there is what really did me in before I think, I used to get cavities all the freaking time, now it's a bit better. Part of that is also genetics though, some people just get more than others but in my case it was probably the sugar/acid. I know some people who are super religious about brushing and flossing and still end up needing crowns and bridges and all sorts of proceedures.