I get what you mean about the threaders—
That was me for weeks. I know the knot trick helps with grip, but I’ve seen a few people accidentally yank too hard and end up irritating their gums. Have you ever tried those super thin, unflavored flosses? Sometimes the waxed ones feel a bit too slippery for me, and I worry about missing spots. Maybe I’m just paranoid about plaque, but I’m always second-guessing if I did it right.“I’d drop the threader like five times before even getting it under the wire.”
“I’d drop the threader like five times before even getting it under the wire.”
Story of my life, honestly. I swear those things have a mind of their own. I’ve actually switched to those super thin, unflavored flosses you mentioned, and they’re way less slippery than the waxed kind. I get what you mean about being paranoid—half the time I’m just hoping I didn’t miss a spot, too. I figure as long as my gums aren’t bleeding and my breath isn’t scary, I’m probably doing okay... right?
I’m right there with you—if I manage to floss without launching the threader across the bathroom, it’s a win. I switched to the cheapo floss too, and honestly, it does the job (and doesn’t feel like wrestling with dental string cheese). As for bleeding gums, mine used to freak out if I even looked at floss, but after a while, they calmed down. If your breath’s not melting paint, you’re probably ahead of the game... but I still get nervous before cleanings, just in case.
I get so anxious before cleanings too—like, I know I’ve been flossing, but what if they find something anyway? I switched to the bargain floss after my last pack ran out, and honestly, it’s not as bad as I expected. My gums used to bleed every time, but now they’re mostly chill unless I skip a night. Has anyone noticed if the cheaper floss shreds more with braces? I feel like I’m always picking little threads out of my brackets...
Has anyone noticed if the cheaper floss shreds more with braces? I feel like I’m always picking little threads out of my brackets...
Honestly, that’s exactly why I stopped using the store-brand stuff. I tried saving a few bucks, but with braces, it just wasn’t worth it—got tired of fishing out those annoying shreds. I switched back to the waxed kind (not even the fancy one, just a mid-range), and it’s way less hassle. For me, the extra couple dollars saved a lot of aggravation. Maybe it’s just the way I floss, but cheap stuff + metal brackets = mess.
