Dental stuff gets expensive fast—I’m all about finding what actually works without making things more complicated or pricey than they need to be.
I totally relate to this. I get so anxious at the dentist, and honestly the price tags just add to it. I tried those unwaxed samples once and it was a nightmare—ended up with frayed bits everywhere, plus my gums hurt for days. I do worry about the floss picks not being eco-friendly, but if it means I’ll actually floss instead of skipping it, maybe it’s worth it? Still can’t bring myself to splurge on a water flosser... feels like overkill, and I’d probably just mess it up anyway.
I get the anxiety thing—dentist visits seriously stress me out too, and the costs are no joke. I’ve got braces right now, so flossing is a whole extra ordeal. Tried unwaxed once and it just shredded everywhere, like you said... total mess. I actually use those little floss threaders and, yeah, they’re plastic, but honestly, if it means I actually get in there and floss, I’m calling that a win. Water flossers always seemed intimidating (and expensive) to me too. Sometimes simple really is best.
Floss threaders are such a lifesaver, right? I only started using them after getting a permanent retainer, and honestly, it was so awkward at first. The first few times I tried to thread regular floss through, I either poked my gums or ended up with the floss stuck halfway. Kinda felt ridiculous battling with this tiny piece of plastic in my mouth every night. But after a while, it got easier—now it’s just part of the routine.
I’ve been tempted by water flossers too, but the price tag and all those buttons freak me out a bit. Plus, I’m not convinced they’d get all the stuff out from around the wires… Maybe that’s just my skepticism talking. I do sometimes wish there was a more eco-friendly option than the plastic threaders, but like you said, if it means actually keeping everything clean, maybe that’s just the trade-off for now.
Unwaxed floss is just brutal with braces or retainers. Tried it once and immediately regretted it—shredded everywhere and took forever to get out. Just not worth the hassle for me.
I get where you’re coming from about water flossers—they can seem like a lot, especially with all those settings. But honestly, I’ve seen some people do really well with them around retainers and braces. They’re not perfect, and they don’t always replace threaders for getting right up against the wire, but they can definitely help loosen stuff before you go in with floss. Plus, some brands have simpler models that aren’t too pricey or complicated. Worth a second look if you ever get tired of wrangling with the threaders every night.
Honestly, you’re spot on—threaders can be such a pain, especially if you’re tired or in a hurry. I’ve seen patients swear by the combo: water flosser first, then regular floss. It’s not a magic fix, but it does make things easier for some folks. If you ever feel like the threaders are just too much hassle, no shame in switching it up or keeping things simple.
