by, Andrea Harris
You remember my friend with the beautiful teeth? The one I told you about last month (along with four common flossing excuses)?
If those first four flossing excuses didn’t sound like you, maybe these last four will! Everyone’s got their reasons, right?
Excuse #5: It hurts when I floss.
If flossing causes gum pain or bleeding, odds are you have gingivitis or gum disease -- precisely the conditions for which flossing is beneficial.
“Flossing should not be a painful experience,” Wolff says. “But stopping flossing because of bleeding [or pain] is just the opposite of what you should be doing.” The good news? With daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing, gum pain and bleeding should stop within a week or two. If either persists, see your dentist.
Excuse #6: My teeth are spaced too close together to floss.
If unwaxed floss doesn’t work for your teeth, you might try waxed floss or floss made of super-slippery polytetrafluoroethylene.
If the spacing between your teeth varies (or if you have significant gum recession), yarn-like “superfloss” may be a good bet. It stretches thin for narrow spaces and fluffs out to clean between teeth that are more widely spaced.
If you’re having trouble finding a workable floss or interdental cleaner on your own, your dentist should be able to offer guidance -- and may even offer free samples. Dr. Matthews always includes floss in his goodie bags!
Excuse #7: The floss keeps shredding.
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| Photo credit: DenTek.com |
In many cases, broken or fraying floss is caused by a cavity or a problem with dental work -- often a broken or poorly fabricated filling or crown. Consult your dentist if you find your floss repeatedly catching in any one particular spot. Chances are the doctor will be able to treat any trouble spots before they get worse.
Excuse #8: I have dental work that makes flossing impossible.
Try floss threaders. These monofilament loops make it easy to position floss around dental work. I’ve used these for years and totally love them.
Now, if these excuses sound like you (I’m betting at least one or two do!), don’t worry! It’s never too late to improve your flossing habits and health! Even though I’m not perfect either, my old friend, “the flosser,” got me completely hooked on those little interdental cleaners. They’re perfect for a quick touch-up after lunch or really any time you’re on-the-go. I always keep a pack of DenTek’s Deep Clean dental picks in my purse, but there are plenty of options out there! Try a few and keep your favorites on hand at your desk or in the car.
The American Dental Association has some more great tips on flossing here: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing.aspx
Happy flossing, everyone!
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