Can you floss too deep?

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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What happens if you floss too deep?

Flossing too hard or vigorously can eventually cause damage to the gum tissues and the enamel of the teeth. In short, if done incorrectly, flossing can actually harm your oral health.
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How far should floss go into your gums?

You ought to do this delicately as opposed to being excessively forceful, or you'll end up with bleeding or harming 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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Can you floss too far?

The Truth About Over-Flossing

The increased surface area and baring of sensitive tissues can make you more susceptible to developing gum disease, even if you're brushing and flossing regularly. Advanced gum disease will eventually cause bone loss in the jaw, so overly vigorous flossing can be a real problem.
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How do I know if Im flossing too hard?

When you first start to floss you are a little eager and not quite sure how to do what you are doing, and you are going to bleed a little bit. But, if you are bleeding every time you floss, then there is probably something wrong and you are most likely flossing too hard.
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Why Do Gums HURT



Can floss wear down teeth?

Flossing Too Roughly

Never 'saw' at the base of the tooth as this just causes friction on your gums and can wear down tooth enamel. Dentists also say to avoid 'snapping' the floss between your teeth, which puts pressure on your gums and can cause them to recede.
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Why do my teeth throb after flossing?

You may discover tooth sensitivity while flossing, or even when you consume hot or cold beverages or foods. Regardless of how you discover the sensitivity, it occurs because too much of your tooth enamel has worn off and left your nerves exposed. A good dentist can help you fix this issue.
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Can flossing cause deep pockets?

Pocket gaps are signs of gingivitis or gum problems. There are many causes of pocket gaps and one of them is an improper way of flossing. As long as it is done properly, flossing will not create pocket gaps.
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Does flossing push plaque on gums?

Flossing can ultimately help remove plaque from areas your toothbrush can't reach, and the removal of this plaque can improve human health. It's not only important for you to floss, but it is also essential that you do it in the right way.
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Can receding gums grow back?

The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
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Should you hit your gums when flossing?

While flossing, you will want to gently move the floss around each tooth and should not touch the gums.
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Should you floss your two front teeth?

Reach both sides.

It doesn't matter whether you start with your upper or lower teeth, or whether you start in the front or the back. Just make sure that you floss all your teeth, including the back side of the very last tooth on the left, right, top and bottom of your mouth.
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Should you force floss between teeth?

If you have two teeth that sit tightly together in your mouth, you should avoid forcing a piece of floss between the small space. If you force or snap the floss into the congested area, the floss can cut your gums, resulting in bleeding and sore gums.
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Should you floss aggressively?

Aggressive Flossing

For the best results, you only need to floss your child's teeth once a day. Flossing too roughly – Some people may floss too vigorously and enthusiastically, harming both the tooth enamel and the gum tissue. Damage can be done to both the gums and the teeth as the enamel wears away.
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Should you floss behind last molar?

One of the most common areas neglected by flossing is just behind the last molars. Oftentimes, many people don't think this area needs to be flossed, however it is important to floss behind the molars, as well as in between all the teeth.
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Is a Waterpik better than flossing?

The scientific research shows that oral irrigation, such as the Waterpik, is superior to string floss in reducing plaque and gingivitis. However, most dentists continue to recommend flossing before or after using a Waterpik.
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Is it best to floss in the morning or at night?

The best time to floss is when you have time to floss properly. For many people, this means flossing at night before bed. This may also prevent food particles from remaining in your teeth overnight, which will reduce possible damage from bacteria.
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Can deep pockets in gums heal?

Periodontal pockets are a symptom of periodontitis (gum disease), a serious oral infection. Periodontal pockets can be treated and reversed with good oral hygiene or with dental treatment.
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Why are my gum pockets so deep?

The first way involves the gum swelling from irritation, causing the gum pocket to become deeper and taller. Another way is due to bone loss around the teeth, at the base of the pocket. This makes the pocket grow deeper as well.
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Can deep gum pockets be reversed?

The key thing to reversing gum disease is removing the tartar that's present on both the root of your teeth and under your gum line. Periodontitis can't be reversed, only slowed down, while gingivitis can be reversed.
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Can flossing cause tooth pain for days?

Usually, people who experience pain after or during flossing are those that are new at it. Improper techniques and tools are the most common reasons for this unpleasant ache. At the end of the day, flossing means putting a sharp rope between your teeth and cutting away potential breeding spots for bacteria.
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Should you floss before or after brushing?

The short answer: It does. 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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Is it OK to floss every other day?

The short answer is: yes, you should floss every day. The American Dental Association recommends flossing your teeth every day to improve oral health and prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and more. We hear this recommendation often from dental product ads on TV and in magazines.
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