String floss is basically my nemesis too. My kiddo has really tight teeth and we went through so many brands of floss that would just shred or get stuck. She’d get frustrated, I’d get frustrated, and honestly, it just made us both want to skip it. The guilt from the dentist was real, especially when they’d ask if she was flossing daily and I’d have to do the awkward “umm, not really...” thing.
We finally tried one of those kid-sized water flossers after her last cleaning (the hygienist actually recommended it, which surprised me—I thought they’d insist on the old-school way). It took a couple tries to get the hang of it, but it’s been a total game changer. She thinks it’s kind of fun, like a little water gun for her teeth, and I’m not dreading bedtime routines nearly as much. Her gums don’t bleed anymore, which is a huge relief.
I used to think if we weren’t doing the “perfect” routine, it didn’t count. But honestly, just finding something that works—even if it’s not textbook—has made a bigger difference than trying to force what wasn’t working. Our dentist actually said her gums looked way better at her last visit, so I guess it really is about consistency more than technique.
I still get a little nervous before appointments, half-expecting to get lectured, but it’s gotten less stressful now that we’ve found our groove. Sometimes you just have to adapt and not beat yourself up if you’re not doing things the “right” way. Good enough really can be good enough, especially if it means you’re actually sticking with it.
That’s honestly impressive—you found what works for your kid and stuck with it. I’ve had my share of dentist guilt too, especially when routines just aren’t realistic. Water flossers weren’t even a thing when I was young, but now I swear by mine. Did you notice any difference in her breath or just the gums? Consistency really does seem to matter more than “perfect” technique... took me way too long to realize that.
That dentist guilt is so real. I used to stress over whether we were brushing “right”—like, are we supposed to be angling the brush just so, or is that overkill? But honestly, the minute we got consistent (even if it wasn’t textbook perfect), things started improving. I completely get what you mean about water flossers, too. I was skeptical at first, but my daughter actually thinks it’s fun, so that’s a win.
About her breath—yeah, I did notice it got fresher once we got the gum situation under control. Not instantly, but after a couple weeks of sticking to the routine, it was way less “morning dragon.” The gums looked less puffy, too, which our dentist pointed out before I even noticed. I think it’s all about finding that balance between not obsessing and not slacking off… easier said than done, right? Sometimes I wonder if the “perfect” way even exists, or if it’s just marketing.
Interesting point about consistency mattering more than perfect technique. But do you really think “good enough” is always enough? I tried easing up for a while, but my gums got worse until I went back to the dentist’s nitpicky method. Maybe some mouths just need that extra attention?
I totally get what you mean—sometimes it feels like my gums have their own agenda, no matter how careful I am. For me, consistency was a game changer, but I did have to dial in my technique too, especially after a pretty rough patch a couple years ago. I used to think brushing twice a day was enough, but my hygienist kept finding pockets and bleeding. She had me try the “modified Bass” thing, which felt nitpicky at first, but honestly, after a few months, my gums stopped bleeding and my checkups got way less stressful.
But here’s the thing: I’ve got a friend who’s super casual about brushing and flossing—like, she’ll skip a night here and there—and her gums are totally fine. Meanwhile, if I slack off even a little, it’s like my mouth knows and punishes me for it. I guess it’s just one of those things where some of us need to be more on top of it than others. Genetics, maybe? Or just unlucky gums.
I do think “good enough” is a moving target. For some people, it might actually be enough, but for folks like us, maybe not. I had to accept that my mouth just needs a little more TLC. I still don’t go full drill sergeant mode, but I do stick with the dentist’s method most days, and I use those little soft picks when I’m feeling lazy about flossing. Not perfect, but it keeps things in check.
I used to get frustrated seeing people do the bare minimum and never have problems, but now I just try to focus on what works for me. It’s a pain sometimes, but honestly, I’d rather spend five extra minutes on my teeth than deal with another deep cleaning.
