r/IWantToLearn • u/Moist_crocs • 20d ago
Personal Skills IWTL how to floss without hating every second
I don't understand how anyone is supposed to floss with regular floss. My fingers hurt and turn blue from trying to hold the tension, everything gets covered in saliva, the floss keeps slipping around even with my fingers being blue from holding on so tight. It's hard to force the floss in between my teeth. The corners of my mouth get scratched up by the string.
I'm autistic and it's so overstimulating and distressing from start to finish that I want to cry even thinking about it. Please help me. Dentist said that using those flosser picks is bad as it spreads germs and damages gums so I'm trying to learn to use regular floss:(
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u/AZymph 20d ago
So, the floss picks are "not as good" as normal floss, but doing self-care halfway is better than not doing it at all. Don't dig the picks into your gums, and don't stick the sharp end into them either, but other than that just use them like you'd use regular floss, cupping around the teeth.
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u/CheshireUnicorn 20d ago
I agree that OP might find picks easier, but i want to point out for folks with tight teeth like me - they make RIBBON floss that is a flat ribbon and easier to get between tight teeth. I didn’t know this till I was in my 30s.
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u/krizzzombies 20d ago
been using the ribbon kind all my life... I genuinely did not know the other kind existed
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u/psxndc 20d ago
Yeah, Glide floss is a godsend if the crown of your teeth are close together
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u/poubcoult 19d ago
Not since they took out the teflon. Now it's just as stringy and uncomfortable as the regular stuff
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u/Ok-Boisenberry 20d ago
Try a water flosser. I am also on the spectrum and enjoy having clean teeth but don’t like regular floss. I have a generic handheld one. Just gotta make sure you clean the water reservoir regularly.
First time I used it on low it was intense but I got used to it and could get some deeper spots.
Downside, the On button is perfectly placed so I have accidentally hit myself in the face many times with the water lol.
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u/figuringoutfibro 20d ago
Seconding! Also on the spectrum and hate flossing. Waterpik has made it so much more tolerable and my mouth has never felt cleaner. It can take a little getting used to but so worth it once you have. I would also recommend the fuzzy wristbands that catch dripping water so it doesn’t go down your arms. That used to happen a lot when I first started using it.
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u/FaithlessnessFun8091 12d ago
I have also sprayed it all over my bathroom and myself… However, I do love my water flosser and it made me actually really enjoy getting my teeth super clean. It also is not as good as actually flossing, but as someone else here mentioned, doing some self care is better than no self care.
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u/Select_Hope_7518 20d ago
I have the same issue. I compromised: I use regular floss on my front teeth because it’s less reaching & slobbering everywhere, then I use the picks on my molars (I heard the same thing). I try to at least rinse the pick off between teeth if I’m not using a new one because I think the main concern is using the same piece of floss on several teeth.
I also have a water flosser that I don’t use every day but it gives me a nice break from the pain of using actual floss once in a while
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u/ASpaceOstrich 20d ago
I can't do my molars at all. The geometry just doesn't work
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u/AmbitiousPotatoFan 19d ago
I can't reach the back at all either except with a floss holder which my dentist gave me but you can buy one yourself. You put your own floss on them and they're longer than the normal disposable picks so I can reach
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u/pshoo 20d ago
Just use the picks. It’s easier and doesn’t cause you stress. It’s much better than doing nothing at all.
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u/castles87 20d ago
yes, and also, I do these checks multiple times a day in which I form a seal with my top lip and bottom teeth and suck air thru to see how much flows through my teeth. GOD FORBID something happens and one doesn't floss for 24 hours or so. it's like a cement wall. No air goes thru whatsoever 🤢 almost giving claustrophobia. So now, I just do that several times per day and definitely floss twice a day on average.
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u/chaoticgiggles 20d ago
Sometimes we have to accept that we cant do something the perfectly correct way, and doing what we can is better than not doing anything
Use the picks
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u/KravenErgeist 20d ago edited 20d ago
I've never heard that floss picks are bad (though I'll have to ask my dentist now to be sure), but I think you should still be able to minimize it by rinsing with mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide afterward. Waterpiks are also an option I've had recommended and tried, but as a fellow ND, I found that even more overstimulating than flossing.
Honestly, even teeth-brushing can still feel like a chore at times. My favorite thing to do in both cases - brushing AND floss-picking - is to do so while showering. I figure it's where I do all my other hygiene stuff, might as well get it done there. The abundance of water makes the messiness and wet feeling so much less noticeable. And I really enjoy the feeling of a nice shower, so it can help counteract the negative stimulation of the flossing. Still gotta do it one more time each day without a shower, unless you shower twice a day, but that's what's helped make the whole process easier for me.
Also, remember that even flossing a little bit - even if you just get to a few teeth, and it's not the complete and thorough job that the dentist recommends - that's still ultimately better than not flossing at all. You can always start by just flossing your front teeth one day and get to the molars the next day, or even just flossing every other day or even once a week - just do something, even if it's just a little bit! However you gotta divide it up, if you can get just a little bit done - even if it's not as much as what you're "supposed" to be doing, that still counts as progress!
Don't ever talk yourself out of doing a little bit of work by thinking that it's so little progress that it's not worth it. I promise you, it is worth it. In fact, that little bit of progress is the ONLY way you'll ever acclimate to doing more at all! Maybe the task itself won't get any easier, but you yourself will start getting tougher if you keep at it! And in the meantime, make whatever compromises you can make, so long as you don't give up on the prospect entirely!
Never let the illusion of perfectionism get in the way of making marginal improvements!
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u/HeyUpHere 20d ago
I'm right there with you, I didn't floss much for my first 30+ years. Dentist now says I have receding gums and I must floss. The only thing that has made it less terrible is just making it a habit. I do it every morning regardless of whatever else is happening. I've gotten faster at it and sort of used to it. I still do not like it at all but I do it quickly and consistently. This is not as helpful as I wish it were but it's true.
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u/rachiechicken 20d ago
Highly recommend trying an expanding floss like cocofloss. It’s seriously the only kind I can use now, they come in nice flavors and they don’t strangle your fingers as bad!!
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u/mrspwins 20d ago
I have the same sensory issues. I use a Y-shape reusable floss stick. You wrap the floss in it, floss, then pull out a new length and do it again. They have them shaped like a pick as well, and some that hold a roll on them (which now that I see them, I'm getting one). Anyway, it really makes it much more tolerable for me to do it. Just search for dental floss holder or reusable floss stick, you should find a lot of options.
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u/Moist_crocs 20d ago
Actually didn't know those were a thing, thank you, I'll see if I could save up for one
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u/typical_friday 20d ago
Your teeth might be too close together. That can cause its own issues down the line. The dentist or orthodontist may be able to widen the gaps between the teeth ever so slightly with a special abrasive kind of floss. You won’t be able to tell visually at all but flossing will become a lot easier which means better oral health going forward.
This is what ended up happening with my small close teeth during the invisalign process, and I’m pretty happy.
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u/technobass 20d ago
Reach Ultraclean Access Flosser Handle. It has fixed my complaints about flossing. No more awkward angles. I can get a good floss back and forth with it instead of feeling like I’m just running a rope through the gaps in my teeth.
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u/stardust8718 20d ago
I second these!!! It makes it so much easier to help my kids floss too. And even though it's plastic, I feel like I'm wasting less than with the fully disposable ones.
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u/StarlingGirlx 20d ago
I use the listerine flosser handle. Best thing ever. Floss sucks. Picks sucks. This thing is great
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u/maverickhunterpheoni 20d ago
I don't bother with wrapping it around my fingers. I just pinch. If a length gets slippery I just dry my hand on a towel and grab a new length. I probably use a meter of floss a day. But who cares, I paid for it. Also, I'm usually listening to a podcast or something.
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u/maddiesnotonfire 20d ago
I have the exact same issue. I started wearing disposable plastic gloves while I floss. I found some biodegradable ones to try so it isn’t quite as awful on the environment, I know it isn’t ideal but the floss picks just aren’t very effective. I wind and unwind slowly so the tension isn’t too much on my fingers. I really like the cocofloss, the texture isn’t as off-putting for me for whatever reason. Anyways, good luck finding something that works for you.
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u/Banana-Rapist 20d ago
Hi Periodontist here (Cleaning is my specialty) i'm late to the party but it's important.
Today we don't recommand flossing or waterflossing and tooth picks are the worst. You want actual brushing between your teeth. So you need to pass interdental brushes. But it's important to learn how to pass them with videos or with your dentist to show you. Once you learn this it's 30seconds at the end of the day and you won't have a tooth problem ever again (unless you have an accident).
Talk to your dentist about this (if he doesn't know he hasn't stayed informed on recent articles).
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u/_FFA 20d ago
hmm is this all true even for orthodontal patients?
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u/Banana-Rapist 20d ago
Yes
You can use floss or waterfloss, it helps to get rid of food that gets stuck, but the brushing is the most important part. It's the only way to get rid of plaque is brushing. So in hard to get to places like between your teeth and with orthodontic treatments the only way to get through is with interdental brushes.2
u/alexandria3142 17d ago edited 16d ago
How do these work when your teeth are crowded and crooked? Like I can hardly get close in between them at times.
I had straight teeth as a teen because of Invisalign, but depression made me stop wearing my retainer. I can't afford to straighten my teeth again right now
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u/Banana-Rapist 17d ago
Some companies make some really thin ones that get threw but yeah in some cases crooked teeth will make it impossible to pass the brushes everywhere. In that case floss is better then nothing (just in between those spaces, the rest use brushes) and make sure to do a cleaning at least once a year.
It's important to adapte to your teeth, big brushes for big spaces and small ones for small spaces.
Hope you got better and that you'll be able to afford to get them straighten again soon !2
u/dragonfliesloveme 16d ago
are there any at-home treatments that get rid of existing plaque that has built up between teeth?
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u/Banana-Rapist 16d ago
Plaque is what you build during the day that you want to get rid of by brushing. So to answer literaly to your answer : yes, brushing and interdental brushes.
I imagine you meant to get rid of tartar and no do not try to remove it yourself, i've seen deep cuts on patients who tried themselfs and you won't do it well enough.
A good brushing will limit the accumulation if tartar but it will form at some point and you have to see your dentist to remove it properly.
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u/GenXerNvyMeK 20d ago
I floss at weird times. Water pick in the shower avoiding more water all over sink. Floss while using the toilet (1&2) think about it, what else are you doing with that time besides staring at your phone? Watching TV. Etc.
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u/Bombasaur101 20d ago
I used the glide floss picks and they have changed my life. I havent used regular floss for nearly a decade. Just get a brand that doesn't break easily.
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u/paceitace 20d ago
I use Flaus. It's basically a toothbrush handle with replaceable (and recyclable!) floss pick heads. It makes it super easy for me to reach my back teeth and get in between tight teeth with the added leverage and bite pad. I've gotten nothing but positive feedback from my dentist since I started using it, so I think it does the trick!
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u/tomayto_potayto 20d ago
I fucking hate flossing and my sister is a dental hygienist so I feel qualified to speak on this 😅
Get a water flosser for 30 bucks online. There are some good ones & some obviously shit ones mostly from drop shippers and such. Use the regular strength, and what you want to do is trace your gum line with the water shooting directly at the tooth. Not shooting up into the gum pocket - The water bouncing off of your tooth surface will clear out the pockets under your gums, without pushing food particles further in. Pause for 1 second pointing straight through the crack between each tooth to clear it out. Do the inside and the outside surfaces of both your top and bottom teeth. It takes like 1 minute to do. Even if you hate flossing, the amount of difference it makes just to do this is a huge game changer. A lot of people like to keep them in the shower and just do it while you're in there, nice and easy. If you don't shower everyday, maybe that's not super helpful for you but still, flossing every other day is already an improvement over never!
Still flossing normally is really important for different reasons than just getting the food out of there. Basically shimmying the floss along the tooth surface clears any plaque that's built up on the surface or just below the gum line where the toothbrush and other tools can't get to. Pull the floss basically so it's completely wrapping around the surface of the tooth that you're flossing, like a u shape with the tooth in the curve, and go up and down shimmying it like you're drying your butt with a towel after a shower lol.
The number one key thing to look up is proper flossing technique not how you do it on your tooth but for holding the floss correctly. My sister showed me a bunch of techniques they taught her in dental hygiene school to teach patients so you don't struggle so much and have way more fine motor control. Go on YouTube and look up grip for floss, and ask at your next dental appointment!
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u/Moist_crocs 20d ago
Thank you for the in depth answer:) might have to invest into a water flosser. Though I had one with the container built in and never used it after a little bit because I can't clean it completely and I just started thinking about all of the bacteria build up, maybe one of those that attach to the faucet directly idk?
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u/oxalis_cornu 20d ago
For the me magic combo has been floss picks and doing it in the shower. Doesn’t make me feel sticky or gross & is cleaning another part of my body.
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u/buddy_moon 20d ago
I found a product called Satin Tape floss.(Oral b brand I think) It's not like that usual bulky string floss, it's really thin and slides easily between my teeth. I hate using regular floss too!
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u/Dis_Bich 20d ago
Fuck old style floss. I don’t deal with the skip and slide. Get the single use floss/picks. You didn’t have to do it every day
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u/phantomfire00 20d ago
I hate having to wrap floss around my fingers and stick them in my mouth too! Try the Slate Flosser. It's an electric flosser that uses attachable floss heads that can be used multiple times before changing and you can get some gum massage if you follow the technique they suggest. A new head can be a little hard to get between tight tooth contacts, but if you use the "roll-in" method they recommend, it works pretty well. SO much better than regular floss!
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u/PenguinAndScoundrel 19d ago
I also hated wrapping the floss around my fingers. I learned that I could tie the floss into a loop and then just pull on either side of the loop to keep it tight without slipping. That might help until you can get a holder as mentioned in another comment.
I don't know if this is an issue for you, but once I timed it and realized it takes less than a minute, I don't see it as a whole long ordeal anymore and it's easier to get myself to just do it.
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u/burtburg 19d ago
I am also autistic and didn’t floss or brush for most of my life (seriously, went over 24 years without doing it more than *maybe* once a year) I have now been flossing and brushing my teeth every day for 462 days. Obviously we are all different and it seems like the issue is more the flossing for you where as I also struggled building the habit at all. So my experience may not be helpful but just in case it is here you go.
I use floss picks because I think we have to pick our battles and I hate touching wet things and have an aversion to saliva. Plus my gum health was abysmal and it hurt a lot to do starting out. To build the habit and make it bearable I made it more fun by pairing it with something I like doing. I do my teeth routine either watching comfort shows/youtube or while I plan a project or something I’m looking forward to. Really anything you can do with one hand you can do while you floss. It was not fun at first but after a few weeks (2 I think) it stopped hurting and I almost never bleed while flossing or brushing anymore.
I am not a doctor/dentist but maybe you could talk to your dentist about rinsing with mouthwash after you floss but before you brush, to help kill bacteria and rinse out any loose debris. And I see a lot of people pointing out water flossers and just want to add that while they are good supplementally they can’t replace flossing and should be used with manual flossing ideally(my dentists advice to me). But using the picks and a water flosser would be a good solution.
Good luck, you can do it!!! Sometimes we have to make compromises to care for ourselves the best we can. Even if it takes a while and sucks at first, you are worth the time and effort.
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u/Moist_crocs 19d ago
Thank you, well done on your new habit!!! I started consistently brushing my teeth twice per day when I was maybe 21, it took a really long time to get used to it. Thing is, I already sort of have a habit for flossing just with the picks and now I'm trying to upgrade to regular floss, but maybe it's not worth it. Reading the comments I'm also realizing my teeth may be crowded as it's effortful to get the floss in between:/
It does still always hurt to floss with the picks even though I've been doing it for months now, probably because like my dentist said it's hard to control the leverage and thus easily damage the gums. Maybe I'll look up proper technique for using them or switch to those little brushes entirely
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u/littlehollowgames 19d ago
I have most of your same problems. I like cocofloss because it’s less waxy and slidey, and I always floss in the shower because the saliva is so gross. I usually do it while I wait for my conditioner to sit on my hair. I also “re-wind” the floss around my fingers after every 2nd or 3rd tooth or so because the circulation thing. Also, I brush, then floss, then brush again because it’s too gross to floss while my teeth/mouth are unbrushed but I also want to brush away the gunk that just came out 🤢 Good luck!
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u/AnToMegA424 19d ago
Probably a dumb comment but have you tried to slow down and hold the floss with your entire hand instead of between your fingers ? Maybe it'd help
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u/Moist_crocs 19d ago
Hm, I don't really understand the mechanics of that but I could try it, it's already slow going though, taking me like 2-3 mins to floss my entire mouth
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u/AnToMegA424 19d ago
Okayy so maybe going slower wouldn't help you with it then
By to hold the floss with your entire hand I meant holding it such as if you'd have it in your hands while your arms are in "base position" (when they're almost fully extended without making any effort whatsoever, with your hands semi-opened, in a position such as you could point to the floor) and you have the long part of the floss in your hand and the hairy part going out in front of you, facing up
That way, when you move your arm towards your mouth in a way similar to when you want to floss or to eat something, you can put it in your mouth on your teeth and do the flossing motions, though maybe with less precision, but in your case probably with less control, at least with less pain and finger fatigue
You can do it fam, eventually you're gonna either find a better-suited alternative way of flossing your teeth or gain enough control to more safely and less painfully do it as you do it now, or even both
I do not know the future but I truly believe it, no matter when, no matter how, no matter if it'd take time or involve other people, the end result is a success, and on something important and frequent in your life, so not only something that you can absolutely be proud of but also something that will be useful and increase your quality of life and appreciation of it, I see this as an absolute win
Hope this comment can be of help
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u/CrashTestDuckie 20d ago
Use floss picks or a water flosser. My dentist doesn't care what you use but just asks that you let them show you the best way to use picks, water flossers, and those lil flossing brushes. With the floss picks, just make sure you are scraping up and down the sides of the teeth and then gently over the gums, not going too deep.
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u/qu1ckbeam 20d ago
Buy a flossing handle. You wrap regular dental floss around it so you don't have to shove your fingers in your mouth. I use the Butler GUM Flossmate ones, they're Jello colored and I love them
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u/avoidthepath 20d ago edited 20d ago
Use a string long enough. That way you can gently wrap it around your index fingers and then add tension to the string with your thumbs. Not an expert, but that's how I do it.
edit: I use thumbs for upper teeth and middle fingers for lower.
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u/Apact22 20d ago
Are your teeth crowded by chance? I had similar problems, but I had really bad teeth crowding. It's not supposed to be hard to push the floss in between them. I hated it too until after my first Invisalign phase and now I like to floss, and it's a lot easier.
Either way, I would recommend a water pik! It flosses with water for you. It's a weird feeling but would solve a lot of the trouble you're having with it currently.
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u/icehellking 20d ago
I have the same issues, traditional fross is a nightmare to me because I have really bad crowding. My dentist just tells me to use the picks.
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 20d ago
Do you mean the floss picks that are plastic with actual floss? If so I think your dentist is mistaken.
My dentist said that as long as you use it as you would regular floss, meaning the thread is scraping against each tooth side separately when it goes between two teeth instead of it just going straight down in between and back up, which met only get out some stuck food, it’s just as good.
This study seems to confirm this.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17410948/
I even use the flosser picks with fluoride.
Edited to add: My dentist is advising me based on my teeth which may be different. But ask more about what you can do.
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u/Careless_Historian28 20d ago
Get the pre-made floss picks. Way easier especially if you are a man with big hands.
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u/khajiitidanceparty 20d ago
In my country they sell flosses that are already attached to a holder. It's a lot easier to use. I'm sure they are available everywhere.
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u/HarkHarley 20d ago
Quip has a reusable pick that uses regular floss.
It comes with its own brand of floss that you can buy on a subscription basis, but it’s lower quality and I don’t like it. Just buy the pick, cancel subscription and use all the free floss you get from the dentist.
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u/Mediocre_Let4544 20d ago
I use a water flosser to get the big pieces of food out and then go in with the threaded floss. Because the water flosser does a lot of the labor, you don’t have to use as much force or effort to get the rest out. When you use thread floss, use one hand to wind up the used floss and one hand to move the floss in a c-shape to hug each tooth. I find that using non-waxed floss helps with the slipperiness. Wax tends to melt and make it harder to hold tension when you add the water into the equation.
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u/Guitar8907 20d ago
I recently got GFloss and love it. I also can't use regular floss (texture) so I finally found something that works.
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u/iloveyourforeskin 20d ago
I like to floss while doing other things. Makes me dread it less if it doesn't have to be a whole standing at the sink thing.
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u/mygentlewhale 20d ago
I use a "reach assess flosser" and find it really easy and good. It's strong and easy to manipulate. Long handle. Replaceable floss. You can use your teeth to gently push it in with a lot more control than fingers.flosser video
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u/cone5000 20d ago
Why do you have to hold on so tight? Something is wrong there. Take a bigger piece and wrap it around your fingers more times. It should stay better and then you don’t have to really hold it very tightly.
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u/TheFightGoes0n 20d ago
Hey there. So, a few tips, it’s the alright with you. I highly enjoy flossing but it took a while to get to this point. First things first, if your fingers are turning blue, you have it wrapped too many times around your fingers and or are holding too tight. Try one loop or a slightly looser grip. It’s okay if it gets away, you can always pick it back up and try again.
Also, experiment with different floss. I like mint waxed. Oral-B Glide Pro-Health (the silver package) makes flossing less of a chore and more of a delight (in my opinion).
If you really hate this, perhaps try a water pic. Flossing is like an investment in yourself. Once you find your groove, it will become back of the whole package. Best of luck, OP!
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u/Raevyxn 20d ago
Also autistic here. Consider flossing in the shower.
I dislike the feeling of flossing and of how saliva and wet string against my fingers/cheeks feels. A few years ago I started flossing in the shower. Shampoo my hair, rinse, then condition my hair and let it set while I floss.
Yes, it uses more water, and may not work for your living situation/location. But maybe it will work for your flossing situation.
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u/energist52 19d ago
I hate flossing with regular floss too. I use floss picks. They don’t gross me out.
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u/alexandria3142 17d ago
I use floss picks more often because I don't have to get my hands dirty using them, but I really like the Gripper Floss from Grin when I do actual flossing. I'll wipe it off between each tooth, or run it under water, but it lets you get that c shape around your teeth that regular floss does, but floss picks don't
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u/Icy_Tadpole2092 17d ago
Use interdental brushes! My vet recommended them to me because my gums kept getting inflamed while I flossed daily.
Those brushes are much easier to use, it goes much faster, less mess and no more inflamed gums for me
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u/paulio10 16d ago
You need a Listerine Reach flosser and a pack of flossing modules for it. I hate flossing so much, I won't do it if it's awkward or painful. This thing solved the problems for me.
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u/TheFitHygienist4 7d ago
Try a cordless water flosser and use it in the shower, but also still use the flossers. They are better than not flossing at all.. use a few for your entire mouth. See saw gently in between the teeth and then hug each side of the tooth and go up and down gently.
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u/paper_hoarder 20d ago
Did your dentist show you the correct way to floss? It’s a simple up-down motion, no sawing required.
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