Here’s a weird one: my cousin swears her gums stopped bleeding *only* when she switched to flossing at night instead of mornings. I always thought it didn’t matter, but now I’m curious. Anyone else got little flossing tweaks that made a difference?
I always thought it didn’t matter, but now I’m curious.
I used to think timing was just a detail too, but honestly, switching up *how* I flossed made more of a difference for me than when. I started using those cheap little floss picks (the dollar store kind), and it was way less painful than regular string. My gums stopped bleeding after a couple weeks—maybe it’s more about consistency and technique than the actual time of day? Still, I get why your cousin noticed a change. Everyone’s mouth is different, right?
I get what you mean about the floss picks—they’re way easier for me too, and I’m less likely to procrastinate when it doesn’t feel like a wrestling match with my teeth. Timing-wise, I’ve seen some folks swear by flossing at night, right before bed, just to keep stuff from sitting on their gums all night. But honestly, I’d rather see someone floss in the morning than not at all. Consistency probably matters more than the clock, unless you’re eating popcorn at midnight... then maybe do both?
Consistency probably matters more than the clock, unless you’re eating popcorn at midnight... then maybe do both?
I get where you’re coming from with the “floss whenever you’ll actually do it” angle, but I’ve seen a surprising number of cavities pop up in folks who only floss in the morning. The thing is, overnight your mouth dries out and bacteria have a field day. If you leave food bits wedged in there until the next day, it’s like giving plaque an all-you-can-eat buffet while you sleep.
That said, I totally get that floss picks make it easier—if it’s a choice between morning flossing and nothing, morning wins every time. But if you can swing it, bedtime really is prime time for flossing. I had a patient who switched from morning to night flossing and literally cut her gum inflammation in half. She wasn’t even changing anything else.
Still, I’ll admit: after eating popcorn at midnight, you might as well just sleep with dental floss under your pillow...
That popcorn line made me laugh—seriously, it’s always the last kernel that gets stuck in my molars and mocks me until I cave and floss at 1am. But yeah, I’ve noticed my breath is way fresher in the morning if I floss at night, even if I don’t brush again till breakfast. My dentist actually pointed out less tartar buildup at my last cleaning, and the only thing I changed was moving my flossing routine to before bed instead of after coffee. Coincidence? Maybe, but I’m not messing with it.
