Flossing

[SubliminalHorn]

So I'm pretty obsessive when it comes to my teeth. I take pretty immaculate care of them. I floss every night and have for the past 10 years or so...maybe longer.

The thing is, I'm sort of a sadist when it comes to flossing. I LIKE when it makes my gums hurt. I floss pretty deeply. Needless to say, my gums get sore during the night. Again, I don't mind the soreness, it makes me feel like I've really cleaned them.

My question is this, is it possible to floss too roughly? Can I be causing damage to my gums with the soreness as a sign? Any dentists on the board that can answer that?

 

[OrangeBlooded]

no. it promotes healthy gums. keep up the good work.

 

[PiGuy]

Unrelated to your question, but related to flossing:
I got a crown on one of my central incisors (yeah I googled) a few months ago. While I had a temporary on, it popped off a couple of times, and since then I've had a serious fear of flossing the now permanent crown in fear of it popping off.

Any suggestions?

 

[Swiffert]

listerine

 

[Uninformed]

I don't know exactly how you are flossing, but make sure you go on each side of the sulcus. If you look at the picture above, you will notice that the gums make a triangle between your teeth. You should go on each side of the triangle to push plaque away from the tooth and gums. Do not go straight up and down with the floss as it will push directly into the gums and won't do a very good job cleaning.

As for what you are doing specifically, I can't tell if it is doing harm, but it is unnecessary. All that you need to do is to push material away from the gums so it can be removed more easily. This is why most dentists recommend flossing before brushing. Some even say floss, rinse out your mouth with water or mouthwash and then brush.

As for brushing, think of the toothbrush as a flouride applicator. You don't need anything more than a soft brush to accomplish the task. A hard brush can wear down teeth and gums and can cause damage over many years. Brush a minimum of twice a day and for approximately 2 min. each time. The ultrasonic toothbrushes like Oral B and Sonicare are great. Everyone should invest in one.

 

[Stuck_At_Work]

I also like the pain associated with flossing. I thought I was the only one...

 

[AuburnTexas]

Not flossing related, but have you tried the Sonicare brushes? I switched to one a year ago and they make a huge difference on how clean my teeth get. My dentist has also commented that my gums are much healthier as a result to switching to Sonicare.

 

[sawbonz]

 

[kevwun]

I can't believe it took 7 posts before someone kept it real.

 

[AUinAustin]

In regards to pulling off a crown. i had the same thing happen to a temp crown while out of town. I used denture adhesive to put it back and then asked if this could happen to the real one. The dentist assured me that the real one had some serious cement. He said it is very difficullt for him to remove a crown with all his tools and not to worry.