About 30% of the US population flosses daily, so says a recent ADA survey. Break out a lie detector, and that percentage probably drops lower.
Many adults would rather do anything else, even clean a toilet, instead of floss their teeth.
That’s unfortunate, because flossing is truly one of the best things you can do for your gums and teeth, not to mention your breath – it’s highly effective in lowering chronic bad breath.
Fortunately, even if you don’t like to floss, there are some safe, proven, and dental friendly options for you.
Alternatives to Flossing
- Water Flossing
No string goes in your mouth! Instead a steady stream of water, aimed between your teeth, clears away plaque. Water flossers like Waterpik, use a small, hand-held appliance which might be more comfortable for some people. - Dental Picks
Much like a toothpick, but dental picks are specially shaped to clean and massage your teeth and gums, while removing any plaque. They come in wood or plastic, and we have a soft spot for Stim-u-Dents. - Interdental Brushes
Like tiny toothbrushes, specially designed to clean between your teeth, these brushes are a great alternative to flossing. Interdental brushes are usually easier to use than a thread of floss, are just as effective as floss, and are probably your best option if you have braces. - Soft-Picks by GUM®
These small, disposable plastic picks are like an interdental brush/dental pick hybrid. They have soft tips with rubber bristles that comfortably fit between your teeth to clean and remove plaque. They’re also good for people with sensitive gums. - Pre-Threaded Floss
If it’s difficult for you to effectively get the floss in your mouth and move it back and forth between their teeth, Pre-threaded flossers offer a nice solution. They also work well for people with braces, and you don’t need to tie up both hands to floss like a pro.
For those of you who continue to floss correctly on a daily basis, even though you’d rather be trapped on a plane with crying kids, we salute you. But if you don’t like to floss, and won’t do it no matter what, please let us know during your next visit. We’ll help find an alternative that works for you.
And we won’t judge you, or hold it against you. We just want to make sure that we’re doing our job as your personal dental coach to keep your teeth healthy for life.
Practicing good daily oral hygiene from home is vital to keeping your teeth healthy for life, especially when you don’t miss your bi-annual cleanings and check-ups. Need to get back on track? Just give us a call at (206) 524-1000 to schedule an appointment or contact us online!