Every few years the internet declares flossing dead, and every few years my hygienist still finds the spots a toothbrush misses. I am staying with the string.
So what is the honest answer?
Yes, flossing is still worth it if it removes plaque your brush cannot reach.
The goal is not moral purity. The goal is disrupting sticky plaque between teeth and under the gum edge. If string floss frustrates you, try picks, interdental brushes, or a water flosser.
The part people usually miss
Bleeding at first does not always mean flossing is hurting you. Gentle daily flossing often makes bleeding improve within a couple weeks. Pain is different. Pain gets checked.
My rule is boring and useful: change one thing, watch what happens, and stop if your mouth gets irritated. Teeth respond better to steady habits than to panic routines before weddings, photos, or dentist appointments.
How I would handle it this week
- Take a baseline photo in bathroom lighting you can repeat.
- Keep brushing gentle at the gumline, soft bristles only.
- Do not stack three new products at once, because then you cannot tell what helped or hurt.
Related reading: this guide and this review or article both go deeper on the practical side.