Flossing Pain: Why Do My Teeth Hurt after Flossing?

Are you avoiding flossing because of the pain? Here’s what you must know? We take dental flossing the same as healthy eating; sometimes we do, but mostly we don’t. Flossing is an essential part of the dental health care routine. Skipping flossing can result in various gum diseases and dental problems.

People mostly avoid flossing as it’s painful and sometimes makes their gums bleed. But that is not a good reason to stop doing it. Like regular dental visits and daily brushing, flossing should be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine.

Once you know the proper technique, flossing will become very easy. Besides, the flossing pain will disappear within a week of regular flossing.

Why do my teeth hurt after flossing?

Have you recently added flossing to your oral hygiene routine?

When your gums and teeth are new to this technique, they don’t like these strikes, resulting in gums and teeth pain and even bleeding. The ache you feel at the start is because your gums and teeth are making themselves habitual to this cleaning technique. The flossing pain will continue for a few days till your teeth get used to it.

Keep doing it punctually, and your teeth will become punctual to it. The gums and teeth will slowly start resisting the flossing pressure, which will benefit your flossing health.

New to this

Sometimes complicated situations have a simple conclusion. And in case of flossing pain, the simple answer is you are new to this. Just like brushing, there is a proper technique for flossing; otherwise, it can hurt your gums.

With time you will master the technique. Many people start flossing too hard, which result in gum ache and bleeding. If you are doing it the first time, I recommend doing it slowly, as it takes some practice to learn the proper technique. You can also search for how-to videos on YouTube.

However, if it’s been a while since you started flossing and you still feel the pain, there can be another issue. Keep going to learn the main reason and how to fix it.

Wrong flossing techniques

When wondering, “Why do my teeth hurt after flossing,” think of how you are flossing. Sometimes your gums and teeth get sore if you are doing it aggressively. That’s absolutely the wrong way. It’s terrible to apply force between the teeth, and doing it for a long time can harm them. Be gentle while doing floss.

Snapping the flossing thread between the hums and teeth can result in severe pain and gums bleeding. If you think of quitting flossing due to the pain, that’s not a good idea. If you aren’t able to handle this traditional floss, then go for its alternatives like:

• Water floss: In water floss, you use a water stream to eliminate bacteria and plaque between teeth that can result in tooth infection. It can make flossing super easy.
• Interdental brushes: These tiny brushes make it easy for you to clean in between teeth. They are the ideal flossing alternative.
• Dental pick: These dental picks are made up of plastic and wood. They quickly remove the plaque from the teeth. But as compared to flossing, they aren’t beneficial, so it’s better to avoid them.

Gum Disease: If you have bleeding gums after flossing, it can be a symptom of periodontal, which is gum disease. In this disease, you will have tooth pain after flossing. If you catch it early, you can quickly treat it with proper oral hygiene and dental checkups.

Dental filling: After getting a dental filling, it’s common to experience pain after eating, brushing, and flossing.

Issues with braces and retainers

Do you currently have retainers or braces? In that case, flossing can cause pain under specific conditions. For instance, having recently undergone braces adjustment, flossing pain is natural. In such cases, flosses can be painful not due to your technique but the braces adjustment.

However, if you are using the permanent retainer, you must know how difficult flossing can be. But with practice and patience, you can surely master the technique that will not give you any pain.

Rough toothbrush

If you are reading this, you must want to know what is wrong you are doing with your floss. But sometimes, the issue can be your toothbrush. If you use a hard-bristled toothbrush, you can have the problems mentioned earlier.

Using the hard-bristled toothbrush for a long time makes your teeth sensitive. Besides, if this toothbrush isn’t cleaning your teeth, it can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

What Causes Gum Sensitivity?

Many things can contribute to gums sensitivity. Specific fruits and drinks and even hard brushing can cause gum pain. Your physical also affects your gums. For example, hormonal changes during pregnancy, GERD, or acid reflux can result in mouth pain. Consult your dentist to know the main reason behind it.

When to see your dentist?

Whenever you feel mouth pain, consult your doctor immediately. But if you are noticing any changes in your gums or sharp pain, then don’t delay the appointment. You may have gingivitis. Don’t worry; it sounds scary, but your dentist can treat it. However, it would be best if you addressed it as soon as possible.

Early detection of gum-related disease will be very beneficial in the treatment.

How to floss your teeth properly?

Many people wonder about the main reason behind their flossing pain. The answer is their improper flossing technique. Generally, people new to this oral hygiene experience bleeding and flossing pain. Offensive tool and technique is the main reason behind pain after flossing.

Flossing isn’t hard. It’s a technique that removes the plaque and remaining food debris between your teeth. Here’s the brief that can aid in correctly avoiding painful gums and toothache after flossing.

• Take about 18-inch floss around both middle fingers on your hands.
• Gently insert it in between your teeth.
• Insert the wound in the teeth.
• Curve the floss until it comes in a C against the tooth sides.
• Keep the floss pressed and gently rub the floss up and down.
• Floss near the gum line but keep it gentle to avoid any pain, gum bleeding, or damage.

Conclusion

If you frequently experience flossing pain, it’s time to get help. Your dentist will suggest the most suitable way to cure it. Getting it checked on time will relieve your pain and make flossing easy.

These days, many treatments are available to treat gingivitis, teeth sensitivity, and gum pain.

FAQ’s

How do you relive the flossing pain naturally?

Fortunately, there are many ways to relieve the pain after flossing. The most commonly used method is the cold and warm compresses. It’s an ideal way to relieve painful gums, and applying the compresses on the gums relieves the pain.

In addition to this method, many people find tea tree oil, turmeric pastes, and saltwater rinses very beneficial in relieving their pain.

Why do my gums hurt while flossing?

If your gums hurt, especially after flossing, there must be an issue with how you floss. Some people apply too much pressure during flossing, which can result in pain and bleeding from the gums. Pain after flossing can also indicate that you aren’t doing it regularly.

Can flossing result in nerve pain?

Nerve flossing can cause tingling and pain. But once it’s done, you will return to normal within a few minutes. Often you will not experience any stress or pressure on the tight or injured nerve. It is generally felt when the nerve is stretched.

References

https://espiredental.com/ok/flossing-why-does-it-hurt/

https://www.rodeodental.com/why-do-my-teeth-hurt-after-flossing/

https://www.royaltydentalassociates.com/what-causes-a-toothache-after-flossing/