#dental flossing

[incognitopolls]

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[copperbadge]

A while back, I remember you talking about a toothbrush that was so good you almost didn't need to floss? Do you remember what toothbrush it was? Thank you!

Oh sure! Although you may be slightly misremembering, I've definitely posted about that.

For context, as with many people with ADHD I have trouble managing dental hygiene, and while I usually manage to brush twice a day, flossing is beyond me. Especially because I also have unusually sensitive gums -- I've had dentists in the past who were like "Yeah, I can see why you don't floss." There are some people for whom the whole "if you floss regularly it'll toughen your gums" thing simply isn't true. (It's...possible that's true for everyone, there have been very few actual studies with good data on the efficacy and impact of flossing.)

My current dentist recommended that if I wasn't going to floss, I should get an electric toothbrush -- she said any electric toothbrush is at least better than only manual brushing without flossing, but the Phillips Sonicare is the one she recommended. She said that using the Sonicare, as long as you use it for at least two minutes solid and make sure you hit your gumlines, was almost as good as flossing.

I think it's a great indication of how people who struggle with certain tasks and also the medical professionals treating them can sometimes focus so hard on what you ought to be doing that they miss what you are capable of doing -- sure it would probably actually be best if I flossed, but since that's not really on the table, my dentist and I chose to seek almost-as-good alternatives rather than just go back into the cycle of "I don't floss and you scold me for it" which dominated the first 35 years or so of my life. It's one of those perfect is the enemy of good things, where your options seem to be "success or failure" but are actually "success, moderate improvement, or failure".

[endofunctress]

booooo

[theancientfootsteps]

benefits of seeing sin as that which hurts ourselves and/or others and therefore hurts God, and that which turns us away from God:

- no obsessing over details of particular rules

- no constant fear that you're unwittingly doing something God doesn't like

- less risk of self-hatred over tiny things

downsides:

- oh shit that means I really have to start taking care of my teeth properly, huh

[amygdalae]

I'm really good at the dentist because 1. I'm not squeamish and have a high pain tolerance 2. When I was a kid the dentist would let me pick something out of the toy drawer if I was good. and I got so addicted to the meth like high of Toy I now still have the instinct to be good and calm even if the adult dentists just take my money and don't give me any tuoys no more

[girl-in-the-library]

This is your friendly neighborhood Spiderman here to remind you that flossing actually makes a difference. I've been flossing A LOT more (not every day yet, but like 5 times a week) and I'm at the dentist today and my gums hurt a lot less and there's a lot less inflammation and bleeding.

I had been telling people that getting a tattoo didn't hurt any more than going to the dentist and I didn't know if it said more about my pain tolerance or dental hygiene. Turns out it was my dental hygiene.

Who knew?

[nobodysdaydreams]

Alright tumblr. Someone in my life and I were talking about this, and I gotta know the truth:

[lovwren]

Born to lovekowski forced to minlace

[fisheito]

Wind: howls Garu: howls back

[god-syndicate-if]

Why are teeth able to be regrown but not limbs?

...i want a canon reason for you to be able to spit a tooth into a sink after a fight and not have to worry about losing said tooth 😔...

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[deadbeatjezus]

y'all be using white thread or dental floss? i don't think i've used thread in yearz cuz of the abundance of free dental floss in my area

[casdeans-pie]

I was slicing an avocado earlier (avocado on toast is one of our best selling lines. to my horror.) but I wasn't paying enough attention and the knife was crazy sharp and it sliced a beautifully clean cut straight across the veeeeery tip of my middle finger. It's like a paper cut's evil older brother. And my god it stings.

Its at such a dodgy angle for putting a plaster on it too !!

What else is a tumblr blog for than screaming over shipping fictional characters and being a big baby about small injuries <3

[heymomhowdoi]

Hey Mom, How Do I: take care of my teeth?

Dental hygiene is very important: its linked to our heart health, as well as how clean our teeth are impacts the way that society treats us. Yet, many people live their entire lives not know how to take care of them! Although schools did teach SOME dental hygiene through The Swish Program, other students were not taught the rest of it, and were either encouraged to over-brush their teeth or not brush at all. For this post, I will outline all of the things that you have to do in order to have good teeth and gum health.

1.) Pick out a good toothbrush and toothpaste.

Toothbrushes have a wide variety: whether you want something soft or firm, manual or electronic, there are many to select from. Many grocery stores have a wall of toothbrushes to choose from, and although it should be straight forward, with all of the types, it can be difficult.

When it comes to if you want a soft or hard brush, most professionals recommend a soft bristle brush, as harder bristle brushes tend to wear down the enamel.

Next is whether you want a manual or electric: manual means that you will be doing all of the movements, and such might be more gentle, however electric toothbrushes have come a long way, and often have different intensities as well as timers. These are good for people who are new to dental hygiene, and want a good guide.

And then there's toothpaste: back in the day, the only non peppermint flavors were often cinnamon (like gum), however with recent years, there has been a distaste for the lack of variety, and so companies had to get creative. Today, you can get a variety of flavors: from apple to watermelon, the possibilities are endless.

There are, for the sake of things, toothpastes that brag to have certain properties from them: some will brag about having charcoal or even baking soda in them! For the sake of even starting dental care, just ignore them and choose whichever toothpaste you like the most.

2.) The timing of a brushing session

I was never taught this when I was younger, and a lot of people miss out on this part of the lesson: you need to brush your teeth for 2 minutes straight. This allows for your brush to do an appropriate job at removing gunk from your teeth, and remove discoloration. If timing yourself is hard, invest in either a timer or an hourglass to make sure that you're brushing for long enough.

3.) Hit all the right spots

When brushing, make sure to start with your front teeth and then work your way to your molars. Get the back of your teeth too! If you start to gag, stop and take a few breaths, and then maybe go a little gentler. Brushing your tongue is optional: not a lot of people do it due to how much it makes people gag.

4.) Floss

Flossing, contrary to popular belief, is very important: it keeps your gums healthy. Once again, flosses are a dime a dozen, so just choose something simple. If it helps, there are flossing sticks you can use, which have toothpicks on the end. They are bought in bulk.

What you're going to want to do is gently press the floss in between your teeth and then pull the other end of the floss through. If you have flossing wands/sticks, you're going to want to rub it gently in between maybe twice and then pull it back upwards. Do this for all of your teeth if you're able: you might need to practice before you're able to successfully floss your back teeth.

5.) What about mouthwash?

The jury is out as to whether mouth washing is important or not: it definitely can help with the prevention of cavities, however it is not as important as brushing/flossing, and shouldn't be relied on for the long run as a replacement for either. But, if you're depressed, and you feel like you can't brush your teeth, or if you are struggling with nausea one morning, mouth wash can be used in order to at least do something.

5.) Frequency

Teeth need to be cleaned twice a day: brushed twice, maybe flossed once a day. This ensures good dental health, and fortifies your teeth against infections and other problems!

I hope you're doing well today,

Love, Mom

[katkalis-the-fanartist]

Got done getting my teeth cleaned and forgot I'm getting fillings done afterward also. Taken from a room with cartoons and cleaning and freshness to a room with news about dead dolphins and sudden injections in my mouth. Its JARRING. I'm jarred.

[stayatsam]

a visible cavity popping up shortly before i have a dentist appointment is diabolical and evil