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44 comments
  • I do it once a day, which is what my dentist recommends. Usually at night so you don’t go to sleep with stuff in your teeth. Being gentle should prevent it from hurting.

  • This will tend to happen if you're snapping the floss in between each tooth. Use a gentle back and forth motion to slip it between teeth, and slide it against the side of each tooth gently. If it hurts, you're probably being too rough. Also maybe start with once per day, in the evening.

  • If it hurts, you might be using a bit too much force

    firm but gentle like cleaning the smugde off your phone is how I'd recommend visualizing it

    • too aggressive and you'll destroy your screen, too soft and you'll never get that smudge off

    also like the other commentors have suggested maybe a waterpick could be another option you might want to try

  • Yes, however part of it is technique: Flossing will probably always hurt if you are just sawing into your gums with string all the time. The idea is to use it to clear stuff off your teeth, so try to get the floss to conform to the curves of your teeth as best you can. If you're using flossers, consider switching to regular string. They also sell flossing toothbrushes.

    However you floss, try to keep it up along with regular brushing using fluoride toothpaste before bed. I brush when I wake up too.

    • Great advice. I've been using flossers lately because of a broken shoulder, and I can definitely tell that the quality of my flossing is lower than it is with regular floss. It's also harder to be gentle.

      • Yeah, flossers are kind of more of an in-a-pinch solution IMO. You might try a flossing toothbrush too, hope your shoulder heals soon!

  • Once a day is good for flossing, I do it just before brushing my teeth at night, so the bristles and toothpaste can get where the floss cleared out the gunk. It should stop hurting soon and just "wake up" your gums instead.

    Think of the floss like a blade and scrape, don't saw! Obviously if your teeth are tight together you might have to wiggle back and forth a little to get between them, but as soon as you get down to your gums, only go up and down, scraping the side of each tooth, not really going after the gum itself.

    I like the Oral B GLIDE "gum care" flossers, because you can pinch to pull the floss taut and wiggle it between tight teeth, then relax it to curve around the sides of the tooth, and get the correct angle even way at the back of the mouth. I rinse and reuse them several times for less waste. Otherwise I like Floss Tape, which is wider than regular floss for more cleaning, less cutting. It'll also braid into a stronger rope for escaping from prison or rescuing princes or whatever.

    Try swishing with warm salt water when your gums feel sore, you can do it anytime. And get some extra vitamin C into your system. It's good for gums, that's why bad gums are a symptom of scurvy.

    Good on you for doing what your grandmother says! At our age, we know how important it is to keep your teeth as healthy as you can, and as long as you can.

44 comments