I never managed to make flossing a habit until my hygienist recommended this $2 solution now I d

• Use and set up
• What it's like using the Listerine flosser
• The bottom line

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• For 39 years, I avoided flossing because bloody gums and grimy spit strings didn't appeal to me.
• My dental hygienist recommended the Listerine Ultraclean Access Flosser — it's been a game-changer.
• I don't have to touch the floss and the handle offers great leverage for getting it into tight spots.

Bloody gums and gross spit strings are not my ideas of a good time. Unsurprisingly, I never got into flossing, despite the pleadings of my dentist (and the many flossing hacks that exist). I'd give it a go after each visit but I always quit before it became a habit. That is until my hygienist recommended the Listerine Ultraclean Access Flosser. 

I was immediately intrigued due mainly to the fact I didn't have to wrap disgusting dental floss around my fingers. There's a three-quarter-inch piece of string on the head that only comes in contact with my teeth and gums, and the handle is long enough to provide solid leverage, unlike single-use floss picks.

Here's what it's like to use and why I recommend it to anyone who hates flossing as much as I did.

Use and set up

The Ultraclean Access Flosser comes with the flosser head already installed, making it easy to use right away. What I do is first rinse the head, grip the handle via its green ergonomic grips, and work my way around starting on my bottom, back-right teeth.

The design of the flosser makes it easy to push it down between my teeth and move the head back and forth. I'm even able to reach below the gum line to make sure I'm getting an adequate clean. When done, I just rinse the flosser head.

The flosser comes with eight refill heads that are easy to switch out. You just pop off the old one by placing it floss-down on a flat surface and pressing down on the handle. To put a new head on, line up the head with the end of the handle and press down.

The instructions say to replace the heads daily but my hygienist told me I could do it less often. I usually switch every Monday, sooner if the floss exhibits significant degradation.

What it's like using the Listerine flosser

The key to developing a habit is working it into your daily routine. For me, flossing fits in right after my morning shower. Experts may say to do it at night so you don't sleep with food in your teeth but I have zero willpower at night. I'm therefore forced to floss in the morning or the habit wouldn't take (i.e. the previous 39 years of my life.)

Now, I floss after my shower without thinking about it. Plus, it hardly takes any time at all, taking up roughly 25 to 30 seconds of my morning. After two years of this habit, I rarely get bloody gums and my dental visits are a (sugar-free) cakewalk. 

I've even become one of those people who set up a "Subscribe & Save" for the refills on Amazon (only $3.39 for 28 refill heads). Now, they arrive right as I'm about to run out, so I don't have to put in any effort to reorder.

The heads are available in mint and unflavored. Honestly, I didn't realize the heads were mint-flavored because I usually floss after brushing my teeth and rinsing with a mouthwash.

The bottom line

If you're like me and you struggled to get into flossing, I strongly recommend the Listerine Ultraclean Access Flosser. It's improved my dental health immensely, which has likely improved my overall health. Plus, it only costs two bucks. What have you got to lose?

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, comes with eight snap-on head refills, the handle provides good leverage

Cons: Your gums may bleed if you aren't in the flossing habit yet (but stick with it)

• The 13 best mattresses of 2024, tested and reviewed
• Travel guru Rick Steves never checks a bag. Here are the 25 things he always packs in his carry-on.
• I toured 8 distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – here are the 16 best whiskeys I tried and where to buy them
• The 6 best air fryers of 2024, tested by our expert
• The 6 best air conditioners for keeping your house cool this summer
• How bidets changed my life, for better and for worse

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnmJqurcDHaJuepqSWuXC4yKyrnqqZo7JuwcutqZqbnJqur3nAnJqeq6Nis6270qycq2WimsOqsdY%3D