inci-dentally

I was reading a thread on dental hygiene the other day on reddit, naturally the best place to get information.

I read some stuff that made me pick up the floss for the first time in like 2 years. Plus I learnt how to do it properly.
- One of the dentists who replied said that they ask their patients to floss and smell the crap that comes out. Usually they are convinced after that.
- If the floss clicks when you are inserting it between your teeth, you are doing it wrong. If you meet no resistance while flossing (at this age) then wtf does your dentist know about this you need to get that checked. When you meet resistance, you're meant to rock it back and forth so the floss slides in. Go downwards on one tooth, slide across the gum to the adjacent tooth, rock back up the other tooth. Try not to click the floss (forgot the reason, if it's stated at all - maybe it damages the enamel?)
- Also, the normal (it seems) idea of flossing is that you get a 30cm long piece of floss, hook it behind a tooth, and pull it back and forth across the back of the tooth. I think this idea came from cartoons and is quite herp derp. It will freaking destroy your enamel, as well as pull teeth outward (no idea what the jargon for that is). So definitely don't do that.
- Braces or other dental installations that prevent traditional flossing from working properly would benefit from a Waterpik. Didn't do much research on that but it sounds kinda fun. Though expensive.

But seriously, the upper molars are at such a terrible position for finger access. Coupled with the fact that floss is slippery and will not stay wound around my fingers, especially the last two or three winds.

Some things about brushing that I already knew but might as well share:
- Brush in a general up-down motion, ie along the tooth, not across the tooth.
- Always use a soft toothbrush. Medium to hard toothbrushes are for dentures (why nobody tells us this is a mystery)
- The accepted analogy for brushing pressure is "as hard as you would brush a tomato".