• rezifon@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I was amazed at how little time it took me to develop this habit as an adult. Honestly, just commit to flossing every single day for like 2 weeks straight. It’s just 14 times you’re signing up for. Don’t skip a day.

      By the end of the two weeks I bet you’ll feel gross if you skip it and be wondering why you haven’t been flossing your whole life.

      Just this one habit change will save you tons of grief and thousands of dollars in dental work over your life. Your gum health affects your overall health in countless ways.

      I like those little plastic floss pick things instead of bare floss. Lowers the hassle a lot.

      • Einar@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        I completely agree with you, ever since my dentist strongly encouraged me to floss, I feel disgusting when I don’t do it and can only shake my head at my previous ignorance, thinking that mouthwash is good enough (that’s rubbish!).

        The only thing I don’t agree with is the use of the plastic helpers. I don’t think I need to contribute to plastic pollution for a tiny bit of comfort. I got used to the regular floss within two or three days.

        If anyone is interested: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-floss-your-teeth

      • proudblond@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Less than two weeks for me! I used to floss really regularly but for some reason I dropped the habit a few years ago. I just went to the dentist a week and a half ago, and since he mentioned it, I thought, yeah, let’s pick it back up and try to reset the habit. I already hate the feel of not flossing after brushing; it just feels so much cleaner! Can’t believe I ever dropped it. I must have been going through a spell of exhaustion.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      Twice a day and don’t go at it like an animal or too harshly … it’s a pain and I don’t particularly enjoy it but at the same time, I have many, many friends who never took care of their teeth and now in their 40s and 50s either have several missing teeth or are dealing with cavities or gum disease so bad that they will lose their perfectly healthy teeth in a few years.

      Seeing what happens to your teeth and mouth if you don’t take care of them is what motivates me every day to take care of mine.

      I also think of it this way … would you rather have the small inconvenience every morning and night of flossing … or would you rather not do that every day and just have one terrible and painful dental visit every two / three years to remove another tooth and have your dentist tell you that you’re going to lose more in a few years.

        • cheeseburger@lemmy.ca
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          1 month ago

          Keeps your gums strong and immune to the embrace of floss, whereas non-flossers gums easily bleed.

        • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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          1 month ago

          Just frequency … i asked the hygienist I’ve been with for years the same question … she said it didn’t have much to do with anything, it was just a way to encourage people to floss more often during the most convenient times of the day.

          It doesn’t matter when you floss, so long as you do it at least twice a day spaced about eight, ten, 12 hours apart.