everything i've read for years has suggested that the entire concept of dental hygiene is largely futile, especially if you're a coffee drinker or a smoker (which i was, but am not anymore). make sure you don't misunderstand this: this isn't saying that you can have healthy gums, even if you don't floss. what it's saying is that you're probably going to get gum disease anyways, even if you do floss - that, in the face of every other risk factor, flossing is largely a waste of time.
i don't bother, and never have.
that said, i think i should probably look into some alternatives to flossing that may work a little better.