i haven't flossed everyday..pretty much ever. i just stuck to brushing basically my whole life, and i'm 20 now, i just took up flossing once a day about a few months ago, because i had a few cavities i could've prevented. the problem is when i floss the top row grinders, i don't know how far i'm suppose to go in with the floss, and it tends to hurt a bit when i try to floss them. the top row seems to hurt after i floss and i instinctively press my tongue against my teeth or want to press my finger against my gums, but this might be that i'm so not used to flossing and i just started months ago.
are you suppose to go into the gums at all or simply UP to the gum line?
i do floss by pressing the floss against each tooth not against the gums.
2007-01-01 02:10:24 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
some additional comments, i've had a small infection between two teeth and had to put medicine in them (bottom row grinders) no doubt from not flossing, and during flossing one time i actually had a tooth bleed and a little tiny piece of gum come out. i'm unsure if this was due to incorrect flossing, or simply diseased gum tissue and i could be doing as i'm suppose to.
thanks.
2007-01-01 02:12:05 · update #1
Bacteria accumulates not only on your teeth but also under the gums. Wrap the floss around your fingers giving you a space of 2 to 3 inches in between your fingers and keep it pulled tight. On your teeth that have tight contacts, use a sawing motion to get the floss through the contact (try using Glide floss, it works really well). Once you're through the contact hug the floss to one tooth and do go up underneath the gums cleaning under there. Then hug the floss to the other tooth and do the same thing.
What you are doing is breaking up the bacteria that is forming there. If left alone, they become a real problem as you're seeing. By not flossing regularly and properly, you're opening yourself up to periodontal disease...which has no cure, but can be maintained. So, prevention is the best way to do what you can so that you don't have to have root planings (scraping the bacteria/calculus from the roots of your teeth and/or periodontal surgery.
While a water pik is a nice idea, and helps get food out of your teeth... NOTHING replaces flossing.
If you have any questions or would like to see if you're doing it right, do call your dental office, they would be happy to help you.
2007-01-01 04:01:56 · answer #1 · answered by the_2thfairie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water picks are a very good idea.
As far as your gum coming out, it was probably a piece of food. It's completely normal for certain areas to bleed a little when you floss. I have one that does almost every time. Don't go into the gums when you floss. You will irritate your gums. Just move the floss in a "C" motion around each side of each tooth. If your gums are still tender after being a little more gentle, stop by your dentist's office and ask for the hygeinest or an assistant to show you how to floss the proper way. They won't mind a bit. Actually, they'll even be happy that someone's taking an interest!
2007-01-01 10:35:26 · answer #2 · answered by Josi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go here and click on the link about flossing:
http://www.ada.org/public/games/animation/interface.asp
The view they show of the FRONT teeth shows the proper distance to go up under your gums. The view of the back teeth makes it look like you stop at the top of the gum and this is not correct. You have to get under the gums.
2007-01-01 19:05:01 · answer #3 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a water pick it does the same thing as flossing and its easier to do
2007-01-01 10:12:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋