2 years of braces + sensodyne + fluoride listerine + glide floss + 2 weeks of bleaching = recipe for amazing teeth. Now I just need to get this damn crown replaced.
Flossing is totally necessary and everyone should take the time to do it (you only have one set of teeth in your life, and they're ultra important to your health). I didn't really put much effort into it until I was about ~24, when my friend became a dental hygienist. As a student she was required to bring friends / relatives / strangers in to practice cleaning, and I helped her out once by heading to her office. She talked to me, along with her instructor, about proper dental hygiene for almost 3 hours and for once I actually paid attention. I became an obsessive flosser that morning and since then I've flossed nearly every day or at worst several times per week. My teeth are whiter and healthier than ever. I also use a bright light and pick to clean them a few times per week, typically avoid sugar, and brush regularly with a SonicCare toothbrush (gift from the same friend). If you don't floss, the stuff between your teeth basically never gets clean. The other surfaces of your teeth that you often brush with a toothbrush are actually being cleaned all the time with your tongue, cheek, etc. But almost nothing you eat will clean between the teeth and down to the gum line. The problem I had with flossing was my technique sucked, so it wasn't very effective. I watched videos online on how to hold the floss, but the real trick is to wrap the floss around your teeth one at a time (not just go up and down, parallel to the gaps, but actually make a U shape around each tooth and clean one half of the tooth at a time). I use about a foot of floss for the top and a foot of floss for the bottom, and sometimes spend 5-10 minutes just flossing. I never thought I'd write several paragraphs about flossing, but I wanted to share my support for floss!
Flossing does own. I flossed every day before getting braces, but it went to twice a week while I had them. Now that they're off it's back to daily flossing. Never had any non-cosmetic teeth issues.
I had only one cavity in my lifetime (when I was 6). I don't like candy much so I guess that is a big factor. My teeth are far from perfect but healthy I guess.
