# How many times have you flossed in the past 30 days? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800 "2016-04-10T16:01:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/61 "2016-04-23T01:36:28Z")
This is why cunnilingus is so efficient. You can floss at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/62 "2016-04-23T02:20:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Surreal View Post > There really isn’t much scientific support for flossing: > > [The efficacy of dental floss in addition to a toothbrush on plaque and parameters of gingival inflammation: a systematic review - PubMed](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19138178) > > [http://www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v1.../6400835a.html/quote](http://www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v1.../6400835a.html/quote) > The second one supports flossing to reduce gingivitis, which is what it is usually recommended for. the difference reported by the second systematic review is small and doesn’t actually measure gingivitis: “The 1-month estimate translates to a 0.13 point reduction on a 0 to 3 point scale for Loe-Silness gingivitis index, and the 3 and 6 month results translate to 0.20 and 0.09 reductions on the same scale.” The Loe-Silness gingivitis index is simply a visual estimate of how dirty the teeth are, not an actual diagnosis of gingivitis. As far as I know, there is not a single study showing definitively that flossing prevents gum disease. It clearly does not prevent caries. I’ve seen a few studies that showed that gum disease was primarily due to factors such as smoking, immune system malfunction, medications, diabetes, and genetics, and had little to do with actual oral hygiene. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/63 "2016-04-23T14:32:12Z")
Well, my personal experience is that I sometimes get gum inflammation here or there, and it almost always goes down after a routine dental cleaning. But flossing carefully for a couple of weeks will usually do it, too. (I hate flossing, and do it much less often than I ought to. I enjoy brushing my teeth, and do it daily, before bed. That seems to be enough, since every dentist I have gone to has said that I brush well, but ought to floss.) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/64 "2016-04-23T14:42:31Z")
I use a water pick instead of flossing. Twice a week. I started using a Sonicare toothbrush three years ago. Its made my problems with plaque buildup nearly disappear. I used to dread my cleanings every six months. Not any more. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/65 "2016-04-24T03:11:14Z")
Since the advent of these nifty floss sticks, I floss at least once and commonly twice per day. And my dental hygienist has commented on how much improved the cleanliness of my teeth are. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/66 "2016-04-24T03:18:56Z")
I hate flossing, so I always get the lecture from my dental hygienist about it. This time, she suggested I get a thing called an “air flosser” (Sonicare makes it). So I did. I figure I’ve spent money on dumber things, and if it helps me keep my teeth cleaner so I don’t get cavities, it’s worth it. My appointment was last Thursday and I haven’t tried it yet (I had to get an outlet extender for my bathroom since the two outlets are both in use), but it looks like it will be easier and less annoying than flossing. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800/67 "2016-04-24T03:48:09Z")
Two to four for me. I floss once a week at a minimum (usually Sunday night), and also if I eat something (esp. corn) that leaves stuff caught between my teeth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-times-have-you-flossed-in-the-past-30-days/751800.md?page=3)