topic Re: Flossing your teeth in Wellness

Flossing your teeth

JB116 — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:35:42 GMT

Anyone do it every day?

Just curious because when I got my 1st crown just recently I was told I needed to floss every day because if anything got under the crown it could get infected. I admit, that scared me because I HATE mouth pain.

I was never much of a flosser but I have pretty faithfully been doing it since my crown. I am ok with doing the bottom teeth but I have problems doing the top teeth. It's just very awkward positioning to me.

I go back to the dentist next week so I am hoping to get a good report on the health of my teeth and gums.

Re: Flossing your teeth

Q4u — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:41:56 GMT

Flossing is really important in keeping your gums firm and strong so they won't bleed. It also gets rid of the food (blech) that lodges between teeth and yes, getting something up under the crown is a potential infection hazard. I have a ton of crowns (long story about a crooked dentist when I was a kid!) and taking care to keep food out of the area and keeping your gums pink and firm is really important. Yes, I floss several times a day and even carry floss in my purse....

Re: Flossing your teeth

ALRATIBA — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:44:47 GMT

No - I don't. I had one of those small tools that holds the floss that makes it easy to manipulate upper and lower teeth. Google "dental floss holder" .... there are several types.

I brush my teeth twice a day and see the dentist every six months. I have some veneers and bonding. So far, so good w/o flossing.

Re: Flossing your teeth

Carmie — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:45:16 GMT

I floss everyday and sometimes several times a day. I am fortunate that I have all of my natural teeth with fillings and a crown and plan to keep them for my lifetime.

i have to admit that I like the feel of the floss on my gums. As a child, I used to get into my mother sewing box and get a piece of her thread to run between my teeth. One of those weird addictions, but serves me well.

My dentist tells me that my gums are very healthy... so important. Flossing is wonderful for gum health.

i am just wondering how food can get under a crown. I have one and it is tight and fits a bit under my gum line. Nothing could get under it. maybe there are different types???

Re: Flossing your teeth

itsmagic — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:49:52 GMT

Yes - I floss every day. I think it is very important to do so.

Re: Flossing your teeth

SeaMaiden — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:52:14 GMT

@JB116 I have a mouthfull of crowns on all of my molars. Be sure that you pull the floss out. Always good to floss down and pull out on the bottom, and floss up and pull out on the top. Otherwise you can loosen the crown.

Re: Flossing your teeth

zanna — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:03:37 GMT

I floss several times every day. I also carry GUM Soft Picks (come with their own little carrying case) in my bag. They are fabulous and absolutely necessary if you ever eat something like spinach salad! I get them at Target.

Re: Flossing your teeth

KatieB — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 20:47:18 GMT

@JB116 Yes, I floss at least once a day most of time twice a day. I've had periodontal surgery on my gums and have to floss so my gums will not return to the way they were. One tool my periodontist recommended is an interdental brush.

I use this first before I brush, then brush (I use a Sonicare), then floss. After that, I rinse with Listerine Ultraclean. It's an ordeal and I don't enjoy the flossing, but I always do it.

Came back to add tht my periodontist said that the Waterpik is no substitute for flossing.... A friend of mine went to him (her regular dentist sent her to him because of gum problems). She had always used the waterpik - my periodontist told her to stop the waterpik and start flossing...

Re: Flossing your teeth

kaydee50 — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:06:24 GMT

Yes, either floss or water pik everyday. I have several crowns and no dentist ever told me that food could get underneath and cause decay???

Re: Flossing your teeth

panda1234 — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:15:38 GMT

I am a flossing fanatic. I have been knowned to floss at a red light, can't stand food between my teeth.

Re: Flossing your teeth

SilleeMee — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:18:22 GMT

I floss everyday and sometimes twice a day. I'm 61 and I have all of my real teeth including all four wisdoms. I have never had a filling either. I guess you can say I have perfect teeth.

Re: Flossing your teeth

deeva — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:20:00 GMT

I floss at least once a day. I pay special attention to my crowns.

Re: Flossing your teeth

mima — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:26:17 GMT

I floss several times a day also. I can't stand food in my teeth. I also carry floss in my purse and I have some at work. I also have to buy the kind that will go between tight teeth. This is it: Oral B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Floss Mint

Re: Flossing your teeth

IMW — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:35:08 GMT

Flossing is important. Food get trapped under crowns and bridges since gums recede, the longer you have the crown the more the gum recedes. This is unfortunately a normal part of aging, hence the expression "long in the tooth."

Very helpful is a sonic toothbrush and rinsing after eating.

Re: Flossing your teeth

Love my grandkids — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:37:36 GMT

I floss several times a day. Both with floss and with G.U.M. picks. Can't imagine people not flossing.

Re: Flossing your teeth

ItsME — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 17:47:42 GMT

YES!!! Every day! I believe that it's an important step to maintain good dental and general health. Wouldn't think of not flossing.

Re: Flossing your teeth

Perkup — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:05:22 GMT

Can't give you my own testimonial. I inherited the world's worst teeth and I struggle constantly to keep what I have in reasonably good condition. I have to floss to keep food from lodging between them.

However, when my precious husband passed away at the age of 97, he still had all his permanent teeth and they were in very good condition. He had one filling and one cap on a tooth he broke. He flossed - twice each day. And he flossed with vigor. Keeping his teeth was important to him and he did it religiously. And he ussed his toothbush to brush his gums. Said ithelped to keep them healthy.

Re: Flossing your teeth

Suziepeach — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:37:37 GMT

I too floss everyday and have gum picks at hand- those are fantastic!!

Re: Flossing your teeth

151949 — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:43:32 GMT

I can't stand flossing. I use a waterpik instead. Dentist says that is fine.My gums are healthy.

Re: Flossing your teeth

jlkz — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 18:46:31 GMT

Have used the Waterpik with some Crest Rinse in the water reservoir religiously for years after I had " Planing and Scaling " done to correct gum issues and bleeding. Unbelievably great results at each quarterly teeth cleaning session...very little bleeding during the procedure.

Since I use the strongest setting on the Waterpik, I don't use dental floss. The Waterpik gets it all out.

Mouthful of crowns and several implants: don't want to jeopardize the investment !