• jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    40
    ·
    5 months ago

    If you are truly struggling and need actual dental care, try searching for a local dental school near you. Many will take patients for cheap or free, with the caveat that a dental student will be performing the treatment.

    Otherwise, brush at least twice a day and floss. Do not re-use strands of floss, like with those convenient plastic picks. You’ll just be transferring bacteria to each crevice after it’s been used.

    Get a water pick (whatever it’s called) - I heard those are great but I don’t have one myself.

        • other_cat@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          Not the above poster but I’ve had dentists share the same sentiment and mostly I’ve heard it’s because the majority of their patients who use it, use it as a replacement for more thorough dental care–they don’t floss and/or brush because they think they’re getting clean enough with the pik. The dentist who told me this basically said, “It’s fine as a supplement after you brush and after you floss, to flush out any lingering debris from those two activities, but it’s really just not worth the time or money.”

    • tamal3@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      5 months ago

      … Wait, don’t reuse dental floss? Oh no. I thought the point was only to loosen gunk!