Flossing is one of those things I know I *should* do every day, but honestly, I used to skip it because buying those little floss packs felt like tossing money away. I started looking for ways to save and figured I'd share my step-by-step for keeping up with flossing on the cheap—maybe it'll help someone else (or maybe you'll all tell me I'm doing it wrong, which is also fine).
First thing I did was ditch the fancy branded stuff at the drugstore. The dollar store near me has these big spools of plain waxed floss that cost, well, a buck. They don't come in cool flavors or anything, but they work just as well for me. I just cut off what I need each time instead of using those plastic picks (which add up fast and seem wasteful).
Second, I realized you can make a spool last way longer if you use less each time. Like, the dental hygienist says 18 inches, but honestly, 12 inches works fine for me—just gotta be careful not to slip and slice my gums (been there). If it shreds or gets gross halfway through, I'll just grab a new piece.
Third step: I keep my floss right by my toothbrush so it's always in sight. Out of sight = out of mind, at least for me. And if I'm feeling lazy or rushed, I'll even floss while watching TV or scrolling on my phone. Not glamorous, but hey.
I haven't tried any of those reusable silicone "flossers" yet—are they actually cheaper in the long run? Or maybe there's some other trick out there I'm missing? Would love to hear what others are doing to keep their mouths healthy without spending a fortune (or adding a ton of plastic waste).
Cutting back on the amount of floss is something I do too—my dentist always says 18 inches, but honestly, that just feels wasteful. I’ve never tried those reusable silicone flossers either, but I did try a water flosser for a while. It was kind of messy and I’m not sure if it really got between my teeth as well as string floss. The dollar store spools are a lifesaver for my budget, though. Sometimes I wonder if I should be spending more for the “fancy” stuff, but my checkups have been fine so far...
Cutting back on the amount of floss is something I do too—my dentist always says 18 inches, but honestly, that just feels wasteful.
I totally get this. I’ve always been told the “18 inches” rule, but I’m with you—it seems like way too much, especially if you’re just doing a quick once-over and not trying to lasso your whole mouth. I usually just pull enough to get the job done, and I haven’t had any complaints from my hygienist yet.
I tried a water flosser a couple years ago after seeing one of those infomercials late at night. It did feel nice and my gums liked it, but I swear, I ended up spraying my mirror and half my shirt every single time. Maybe I’m just not coordinated enough for fancy gadgets. String floss is just easier for me, even if it’s the cheap stuff.
Those dollar store spools are underrated, honestly. I’ve bounced between the “fancy” brands and the bargain ones, and unless you have super tight teeth or some weird sensitivity, I don’t notice much difference. For me, it’s more about actually doing it every night than what kind of floss I use. I had a phase where I bought those flavored, waxed ones, but honestly, the taste just made me want to snack after brushing, which kind of defeats the purpose.
I do get a little nervous sometimes that I’m missing out by not buying the pricier stuff, but my checkups have been fine too. Maybe if my dentist ever says something, I’ll reconsider, but until then, I’d rather save the cash for something more fun than dental supplies.
I haven’t tried those reusable silicone flossers either. I’m curious, but I wonder how well they actually clean compared to the old-school method. Sometimes I feel like companies just want us to buy new gadgets for the sake of it. If what you’re doing is working, why fix it?
Anyway, glad I’m not the only one who feels a little guilty ignoring the “official” floss length. It’s all about finding what works and sticking with it, right?
Those dollar store spools are underrated, honestly. I’ve bounced between the “fancy” brands and the bargain ones, and unless you have super tight teeth or some weird sensitivity, I don’t notice much difference.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been through the whole cycle—spent years buying those “premium” flosses with all the bells and whistles, only to realize the cheap stuff from the discount bin works just as well for me. Maybe if you’ve got bridges or tight spots it’s different, but for my regular old teeth, it’s all about consistency, not cost.
I remember when my dentist first told me about the 18-inch rule. I tried it for a while—felt like I was wrapping a rope around my fingers and wasting half of it. These days, I use maybe 8-10 inches and just move along as needed. No complaints at my checkups.
Had a go with a water flosser too (my daughter bought me one for Christmas). Fun in theory, but I ended up with water all down my front more times than I care to admit. Went right back to string floss. Sometimes simple is best.
I see those silicone gadgets popping up everywhere now, but honestly, seems like more plastic in the landfill for something that doesn’t do any better than what’s worked for decades. If it ain’t broke…
