That side-eye from the hygienist is way too real... I’ve been there. I’ve tried both water flossers and regular floss, and honestly, I still go back to string most days. Water flossers feel nice, but I don’t think they get everything. Still, anything that keeps you consistent is a win in my book.
That side-eye is basically a warning shot, right? I always wonder if they can actually tell how often I floss or if they're just guessing. I’ve tried water flossers too, but honestly, I get paranoid that I’m missing stuff between my teeth. Do you ever feel like the string gets way more out, or is that just me being anxious?
Honestly, my kid’s dentist gives that same “I know what you did last summer” look every time, and I’m just sitting there sweating about whether we brushed long enough that week. I swear they must have some secret way of telling because my son always gets called out for “not quite getting in between.” We tried a water flosser too, but I feel like it just blasts stuff around unless you’re super careful. String floss definitely seems to pull out more gunk, at least for us—though maybe it’s just more satisfying to see it? Anyone else’s kids absolutely hate both and act like you’re torturing them with dental floss?
That “dentist stare” is so real—it’s like they’ve got X-ray vision for guilt. I see a ton of kids who act like flossing is some medieval punishment, and honestly, I get it. My own nephew would rather do math homework than let me near his teeth with string floss. Water flossers can help, but you’re right, they’re a bit messy if you’re not careful. The trick with string floss (at least what I tell parents) is making it a game—sometimes we pretend we’re “fishing” for sugar bugs. It’s not foolproof, but it takes the edge off the drama... most days.
Totally get the “fishing for sugar bugs” angle—anything to make flossing less of a battle, right? I’ve noticed with my niece, letting her pick her own floss flavor (there’s like, cupcake and bubblegum now?) actually made her way more interested. Water flossers are cool, but yeah, I’ve had to mop up the bathroom more than once. Sometimes it’s just about finding whatever tiny trick keeps the peace... and the gums happy.
