I have tried for years to use dental floss but my teeth are are really close together so much so that I end up hurting myself.Is there an altenative?
Hallo all,
Curaprox (no, it's not a herpes remedy), have interstitial brushes of various sizes. I never could get on with floss, but finds these great. And my dentist approves - my gums just don't bleed any more.
these interdental aids are all great, however the issue seems to be that the teeth are too close together (perhaps crowded) and so these would actually be of no use. i'm a dental hygienist, so i would recommend that perhaps you visit your dental office and have one of the dental professionals go over flossing with you again. i only say this because a lot of times people tell me they can't floss because their teeth are too close together, but it turns out they're just doing it wrong. this may not be the case for you, but it doesn't hurt to reacquaint yourself with the exact method.
Sweets obviously knows smore about it than I do, but there are also various sorts of 'thread' and an expert will tell you which one might be best for you.
longbyt makes a valid point that i forgot to mention. if you haven't already, try the oral-b satin floss. it comes in a blue container and i usually recommend it to my patients that have trouble with flossing. it's actually made with teflon and glides between the teeth very easily. colgate also makes their own brand which is similar, but i'm not sure i've seen it sold here.
Is that a 'flatter' tape as opposed to the 'round' stringy one?
Yes. It is more of a tape than a round string.
Other option is from Colgate.
I agree, many people have troubles flossing just because no one ever showed them how to do it right. However, interdental brushes as shown above may work fine where floss can't get in despite correct handling.l That's often the case when the proximal contact point between two teeth is very tight but the space beyond that obstacle is wide, a condition often found in older dentitions with somewhat shrunk gums, but, depending on the shape of the teeth, it may also occur in young persons.
Some of my teeth are really close together and dental tape works much better than dental floss. Floss breaks :-(
The interdental brushes come in various diameters. I use different ones for my top teeth than the bottom, because my top teeth have smaller gaps.
But of course Sweets (great name for a dental hygienist ) is correct - consult your dentist first.
yes, exactly, and it glides between teeth very easily.
If you buy your floss from Lidl it is a much thinner floss and I find goes easier between the teeth than some of the other well known brands.
Thanx all of you for your suggestions.Highly appreciated.