Are you a Flosser? (Dental Floss in General)

Member Name: Smokindave

Product:	Dental Floss in General
Date:	12/08/09 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helps get to places your toothbruch can't.

Disadvantages: Can be hard to get into the gaps, requires some time and patience.

I have been fortunate with my teeth in that when I do visit the dentist he usually delivers the good news that my teeth are in good shape and no major work is required. In fact he often tells me that I am guilty of over brushing if anything. However he always recommends that I try to floss as occasionally I need my teeth polishing, which although is not particularly painful it is somewhat unpleasant and leaves your teeth feeling rough afterwards. My usual response is to thank him, pay my fees and then carry on as before, however last time I decided to do something about it. So I went out and bought some floss tape.

I must have spent twenty minutes fighting with the fiddly tape, trying to find a gap in my teeth, before giving up in frustration. I just cannot figure out how you are supposed to use this tape as there does not seem to be enough room to work the tape into position. Obviously there is a technique that I am missing. Luckily my wife came up with a solution after she visited the dentist a few days later.

She was not so lucky in the chair and ended up with the dental hygienist who attacked her teeth with all sorts of cleaning devices. The positive side of this was some proper advice on how to floss.

Basically she was told not to try to use the floss tape at all, but to try the dental floss 'harps'; basically they look like little harps and provide a handy way to floss without the headache. She got a packet there and then, rushed home and proudly announced the answer to our flossing prayers was at hand.

Now I always thought that flossing should be done after every meal, a bit like brushing, but no, apparently once a day is okay. Pick a time that is best suited to you such as is in the evening when you are sitting in front of the telly. So with this in mind we have both cracked open the packet and tucked in.

So the technique is simple; holding by the handle, the little floss strip needs to be inserted between the each tooth pair in turn. Getting the tape in between the teeth can be tricky especially on the outer ones, and strangely getting the tape out is more difficult than getting in. There is no need to brush frantically once the tape is in place; just getting it in and out is enough. I have found that a slight 'sawing' action aids removal though on some of the tighter spaces.

Having used these little devices for several weeks the initial pack of 30 ran out and so I picked up an own brand from one of the pound shops while passing; big mistake! The cheaper product wasn't up to the job and a 'harp' would break after only a few teeth or the floss would end up loose between the supports. So in the end I got a reasonably priced pack from Sainsbury which seem to work as well as the dentist's brand. They were called Totalcare Flossers and came in a pack of 24 for £1.40.

I can honestly say that after using these little sticks the feeling on my teeth is very satisfying. That rough texture around the back of my teeth is greatly reduced and even the process of getting the thing in gets easier after practice. I am due to go back for a dental check up in a couple of months, so hopefully I will be able to give an update on how successful my efforts have been. But on my own crude tongue test alone, I would say that the whole project has been a resounding success.

Now I must add that this particular product worked for us; as this review is about flossing in general then I must point out that there are other methods out there including sticks and the traditional tape. Feel free to try other alternatives and basically use what works for you.

Summary: Great way to keep your teeth in tip top condition if you find the right product.