My dentist always reiterated to me at every appointment that brushing at night before bed is the MOST important time to brush as saliva isn't circulating around your mouth as readily as it does when you're awake. So I'd assume the same principle applies to flossing.

I started routinely flossing after I ended up getting a cavity in between two teeth. I hadn't even realized that was possible and it was a PITA to get filled. I floss at night after brushing and follow up with a swirl of mouthwash.

Brush (no toothpaste to clean) for about 30 seconds

Rinse with water

Floss thoroughly

Regular dedicated toothepaste/toothbrush action

Rinse with 50% anti tarto mouthwash and 50% hydrogen peroxide

I use the picks and after reading this thread I wonder if I should stick to traditional flossing for the "c" curve to get deeper into the pockets of my gums.

Sorry, PP here. I meant with the picks I don't end up with gunk on the mirror.

I use the green disposable brush picks instead of floss (made by GUM). My dentist says those are great and it's fine to do instead of flossing if I prefer it (in fact, the package says in a study, they removed more plaque than floss).

My hygienist told me morning or evening was fine, whichever one meant I would actually do it -- and it do, religiously. I do it after brushing, but I don't know which is better.

I like the picks much, much better than floss. I find them easier and quicker and I do a better job. I used to floss and they kept telling me I needed to floss (even though I was) so I think I wasn't doing it right. No issue with the picks.

Oh, and with the floss, I don't end up with gunk on the mirror.

I think before bed is the better time to floss -- you want to get that stuff off your teeth and gums and not let it sit there overnight.

Before brushing and after brushing are both fine, but I prefer after brushing. I agree with the PP that you need to make sure you are not just going straight up and down, but curving the floss in a C shape so you are getting into the gum pocket front and back on that tooth.

And it's critical to floss top and bottom teeth. As my dentist says -- only floss the teeth you want to keep.

I am a fan of the wide ribbon-style floss rather than the thinner thread-type floss -- I feel that it's more effective and less prone to fraying and breaking. I also feel like it cleans without cutting into my gums. My current favorite brand is Dr. Tung Smart Floss:

http://drtungs.com/individual-products/2-smart-floss-3-pack.html

But I do keep those little disposable flossers around too, for my kids and for being out and about when I don't want to haul out a big piece of floss in a public bathroom if I have something stuck in my teeth after lunch.

I do everything 2x a day. Normally after lunch and then before bed.

No pain whatsoever and no bleeding (those are both from not flossing enough).

Anonymous wrote:I floss at night but I've never heard anything about night v. morning being better. My hygienist says she flosses at least twice a day. But, knowing I wasn't a regular flosser, she said she'd be happy if I could work towards once a day, every day.

I generally use soft-picks because I can't use floss to get between two molars that have a joint crown. At that point, it's just easier to use soft-picks on all my teeth rather than pulling out floss too. But, floss is generally better than the soft picks.

I'm pretty adamant about flossing AFTER brushing (and then rinsing with mouthwash). But, I've heard it suggested that flossing before brushing may be best.

Why is that?

Anonymous wrote:Boring

The real question is: how do you keep the food particles from flying off your teeth and onto the mirror.

For real

I floss at night but I've never heard anything about night v. morning being better. My hygienist says she flosses at least twice a day. But, knowing I wasn't a regular flosser, she said she'd be happy if I could work towards once a day, every day.

I generally use soft-picks because I can't use floss to get between two molars that have a joint crown. At that point, it's just easier to use soft-picks on all my teeth rather than pulling out floss too. But, floss is generally better than the soft picks.

I'm pretty adamant about flossing AFTER brushing (and then rinsing with mouthwash). But, I've heard it suggested that flossing before brushing may be best.

I can't imagine not flossing, because I hate the feeling if I don't.

1. Once a day. More, if I eat something that easily sticks between my teeth.
2. I do both. I don't see how one would be more important than the other.
3. A couple of minutes? If I try really hard.

I don't do this in front of the mirror. Why do you need the mirror? There are different types of picks, including ones for back teeth. I use the ones for tight teeth, because others irritate my gums after a while.

If you floss in the morning, I assume you are brushing and flossing after breakfast, yes?

Oh, also, once you start flossing regularly, your gums will become healthier and it shouldn't be painful at all (I assume by pain you mean bleeding/sensitive gums?).

FWIW, I found that once I started flossing regularly, I started to appreciate the way it made my teeth feel clean and now miss it when I forget or feel too tired and just go t bed. Same for drying the (near) inner part of my ear with a q-tip -- didn't used to do it, but now can't live without it.