Is it normal for floss to go under your gums?

After you slide the floss between your teeth, you should bend it around the tooth and let it plunge beneath the gum line (in a perfect world, it should plunge around 2 – 3 millimeters down).

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Should floss go below gum line?

Take complete advantage of the pliability and thin structure of floss by allowing it to ascend 2-3 millimeters below your gum line. This helps to remove bacteria that could contribute to gum disease and compromise your tooth health.

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Why does my floss go into my gums?

This can happen when dental floss is forcefully rubbed or accidentally snapped against the gum tissue. While flossing, you will want to gently move the floss around each tooth and should not touch the gums.

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How far should floss go into your gums?

Floss slightly below the gum line until you feel resistance, then stop. Again, do not press so hard or floss so fast that flossing hurts and/or cuts your gum tissue but by all means, move the floss below the gumline. It is important to not neglect this area because harmful bacteria resides there.

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Can you floss under your gums?

To get beneath the gum line, gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth. To prevent cutting or bruising your gums, do not snap or force the floss. Make sure to use a clean section of floss as you move to different teeth.

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Why Do Gums HURT & BLEED After Flossing?

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Is it possible to floss too deep?

Effects of Flossing Too Hard

With hard flossing over time, your gums will begin to recede. Once this happens, you'll start to experience tooth pain due to the areas of the tooth being exposed can have thin enamel. With extreme cases, the root of the tooth can be exposed causing even further tooth pain.

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How do you know if you're flossing correctly?

Your Gums Shouldn't Bleed When You Floss

It should be a gentle motion moving it up and down along the sides of each tooth. The aim is to clean the areas a toothbrush can miss, not just pulling the floss back and forth and irritating the gumline.

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Why do teeth smell when you floss?

A regular bad smell or taste after flossing could indicate that you have a dental problem, especially if you've noticed that your breath smells less than pleasant at other times. For example, you could have hidden decay on a tooth or problems with your gums.

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What does stinky floss mean?

If the floss smells bad, it means that food particles, usually meat, or some other type of fibrous organic is getting trapped in the space between the teeth. It's been allowed to sit in this space for 24 plus hours, and is basically rotting. What you're smelling is a sulfur gas produced by this rotting process.

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Why is my gum line so low?

Gum recession is when your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing the roots underneath. It's caused by a number of factors, including aggressive brushing, smoking and even genetics. Treatments include antibiotics, antimicrobial mouth rinses and surgery.

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Why do my teeth feel so clean after flossing?

After flossing, your teeth and gums feel cleaner because the floss reaches areas your toothbrush can't. Your breath will be fresher, and the health of your gums will improve.

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How can I tell if my breath stinks?

If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss. Or gently scrape your tongue using a tongue scraper or soft bristle toothbrush, then smell the scraper.

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Should I floss before or after brushing?

While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.

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What does gingivitis look like?

Gingivitis can cause dusky red, swollen, tender gums that bleed easily, especially when you brush your teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fitted tightly around the teeth. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: Swollen or puffy gums.

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Is it better to floss in the morning or at night?

There are some advantages of flossing at night rather than the morning. Flossing at night will remove any plaque between your teeth that has been built up over the course of the day. This can make your teeth feel cleaner and fresher when you wake up in the morning than they would with just brushing alone.

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Do teeth get loose after flossing?

This improper flossing method can wear through the tooth's enamel and can even result in periodontal bone loss in very extreme cases. Flossing improperly can cause your teeth to become loose and fall out. Please schedule a dental visit with Dr. Jeff Johnston at Ascent Dental Group today.

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How long should flossing take?

Flossing usually takes around two minutes, but it can take longer if you're flossing for the first time or flossing with braces. Most people floss at the same time they brush their teeth, either in the morning or at night.

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Can dentists tell if you don't floss?

Yes, the Dentist Knows

Obviously, your dentist will be able to tell if your habit of not flossing has led to cavities between your teeth. However, even if the problem hasn't reached that point yet, your dentist and dental hygienist will still be able to tell in a second whether you've been flossing.

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How often should you realistically floss?

Ideally, patients will floss at least once a day. The best time to floss is at night before bed and before you've brushed your teeth. It's important to floss before brushing, as brushing will help displace any of the substances you dislodge from between your teeth from your mouth.

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How hard should I push when flossing?

Many people begin in the middle between the two top teeth or the two bottom teeth. Once you've picked a zone, slide the floss tenderly between your tooth and the gum line. You ought to do this delicately as opposed to being excessively forceful, or you'll end up with bleeding or harming your gums.

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What is the hard chunk when flossing?

If you have tartar break off while flossing, it will look like a small chunk of yellowish tooth. Depending on where it was located, you may be able to see the rest of the calculus bridge with a missing piece, looking like a slightly chipped tooth. Make sure that it is tartar and not a tooth or filling.

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What does flossing too hard look like?

When you floss too hard, it should be very clear to you because you will see some bleeding and afterward your gums will be tender. If you are consistently flossing too hard, eventually, the bleeding will stop as your gums start to adjust but you will feel some soreness and discomfort after.

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How do healthy gums look like?

Healthy gums are pink (or light brown if you are darker-skinned), firm, and do not bleed when you brush or floss. The gums fit snugly around the teeth on all sides to help protect the underlying bone.

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