So I recently picked up the habit of flossing. I always brushed my teeth and scraped my tongue decently but every since i can remember flossing really hurt my gums... and I started to do it recently once a day.. now my gums are always inflamed and they hurt and I want to grind my teeth to make them feel better and I know it'll only make it worse.. what the HELL is this i'm experiencing and how do I make it stop.
2007-02-02 07:01:22 · 9 answers · asked by campisi05 2 in Health ➔ Dental
It's good to floss and you should do it a couple of times a day. What your experiencing is inflammation of the tissue due to trauma you've caused by "popping the floss" in between the teeth.
Lesson in flossing, start with waxed floss (tape floss is a very good one to use) then wrap the floss on your middle fingers on both hands leaving about 2 inches of floss in between where you control the floss with your thumb and fore finger, slowly guide the floss in between the teeth (use a sliding or sawing motion with the floss to do this) keeping the floss taunt and to the side of one tooth only, not smack in the middle of the teeth. Once in, then slide the floss up and down (gently) against the tooth below the gum line with a C shape cupping the tooth, not going to deep cutting the tissue. Then pull it up slightly, and move to the side of the other tooth adjacent to it and do the same C shape up and down motion. Just be careful not to "pop the floss" and not to force it too far under the tissue cutting it and keep it cupped in a C shape around each tooth. Try this on your front teeth to get the technique down then venture toward the back. Before you know it you'll be flossing all of your teeth in a matter of minutes. In the meantime rinse with really warm salt water several times a day to ease the soreness in the tissue. Keep trying and you will get the hang of it. If your uneasy or unsure, call your dentist office and ask them to demonstrate the technique and you preform it for them, so they can advise you what your doing incorrectly. Everybody has to start somewhere, and it's great that you've decided to join us in flossing. You'll be amazed at the difference in your gums and your breath once you get the hang of it and do it daily. It's one of those things like exercising, once you start, it's hard to stop! Good luck and I hope I've been of some help to you.
2007-02-02 08:25:58 · answer #1 · answered by HeatherS 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you recently picked up the habit of flossing and now your gums are hurting...you may be using an incorrect technique and you may have traumatized your gums. This is not that usually and often steers people away from flossing. Rather than reading the written word on proper flossing technique, call your dentist and make an appointment with the hygienist. Ask her to teach you proper flossing technique, and while your there have the dentist look in and do an exam. Flossing is not supposed to hurt, as your not flossing the gums, but the teeth. Granted you have to gently go under the gums, but not cut into them. The best way to accomplish this it try to make the letter "C" with the floss when your flossing down in the gum area. Enough said...call the clinic.
2007-02-02 07:23:58 · answer #2 · answered by Serena M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The gum is irritated due to lack of flossing and bacteria under the gum line. Just keep flossing the area, don't shy away from it, and do warm salt water rinses 2-3 times a day for the next week. This should help with the gum pain!
2016-03-15 04:20:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's gingivitis or the early stages. You need to keep flossing and your gums will get used to it and flossing is how you get rid of gingivitis. When I started flossing I'd bleed and be in pain but I kept at it and it has stopped.
2014-03-12 11:20:58 · answer #4 · answered by Gabrielle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter had the same problem. When she flossed, her gums got really red and hurt. I told her to stop. She bought a SonicCare toothbrush and in about 6 weeks, her gums went from red to pink and her teeth are healthier according to the dentist. She does NOT floss. Dentist said that she HAD gum disease (gingivitus) before she got the Soniccare.
2007-02-02 07:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get to your dentist. You could have gum disease.
Flossing shouldn't hurt.
2007-02-02 07:05:43 · answer #6 · answered by diannegoodwin@sbcglobal.net 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get the cute floss picks with the handle at dollar general for one buck.
Listerine and use sensitive toothpaste, it should go away.
2007-02-02 07:05:22 · answer #7 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
stop flossing.
2007-02-02 08:31:22 · answer #8 · answered by blah blah 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to see your dentist as it sounds like you have a serious gum problem. See your dentist and get this checked out.
2007-02-02 07:04:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋