I was skeptical about sensitivity toothpaste too, but honestly, it turned out to be worth it. Took me a solid month before I really felt a difference, so you're not alone there. And yeah...
"Flossing regularly is still my biggest challenge"
Same here. One thing that helped me was keeping floss picks handyβlike in the car or by the couch. Sounds silly, but having them around made me way more likely to actually use them. Gums have been happier since.
Have you tried regular floss instead of picks? I get that floss picks are super convenient, especially on the go, but my dentist mentioned they're not always ideal for getting under the gumline properly. I used to rely on them too, but switching back to regular floss made a noticeable difference for me. Took some practice (and patience, lol), but now my gums bleed way less and feel healthier overall.
Also, sensitivity toothpaste was a slow burn for me tooβalmost gave up after a couple weeks. Glad I stuck with it though...definitely worth it in the end. Maybe give traditional floss another shot for a week or two and see if your gums respond better?
Regular floss definitely has its perks, but honestly, I've found floss picks can work just as well if you're thorough and careful. My dentist actually said technique matters more than the tool itselfβit's all about gently sliding under the gumline rather than snapping it in and out quickly. Picks helped me stay consistent because they're convenient, so my gums improved noticeably once I slowed down and focused on proper technique. Might be worth experimenting a bit before completely switching back...