Flossing is an integral part of your daily routine. Proper flossing effectively removes plaque, food particles, bacteria, and other debris between the teeth, an area that cannot be cleaned with just toothbrushing.
Flossing ensures the whole mouth is clean, preventing dental diseases such as decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
Unfortunately, many patients still do not understand the importance of flossing. Some find adding it to their usual oral hygiene routine tedious or difficult. Meanwhile, others complain of pain or discomfort when flossing, so they opt not to do it.
But with the proper technique, flossing should not at all be painful. Once you get the hang of it, flossing becomes easier and can greatly benefit your oral health in the long run.
Potential Causes of Gum Pain When Flossing
One of the difficulties patients face when flossing is discomfort or pain. If you are one of those who have this problem, you may be wondering “Why do my gums hurt when I floss?” Here are some possible reasons:
You may be flossing incorrectly…
Poor flossing technique may lead to pain, especially if the floss is pushed too hard against the teeth or gums. Here’s how to correctly floss to ensure that the process is gentle yet effective:
- Measure a forearm’s length of dental floss.
- Hold the floss taut with your thumb and index finger. Leave a few inches in the center for your teeth.
- Place the thread between two teeth and gently glide it down, rubbing against both sides of each tooth.
- As you reach down the gums, curve the floss in a C-manner against the base of the tooth. This cleans the space between the tooth and the gums.
- Repeat these steps for all teeth and use a clean section as you move to another section.
Maybe you are flossing too harshly…
The floss thread should not be forced down to the gums. Avoid gliding it into the gums as well. This can cause discomfort as it can scratch or bruise your gums. Remember that cleaning the sides of the teeth should be the main focus of flossing, not cleaning or damaging your gums!
The type of floss you are using can also be a factor…
If you have tooth crowding or other dental concerns, a specific type of floss may be more suitable for improved comfort during flossing. Crowding of teeth means the spaces are too tight, so a thinner floss is ideal. This helps with easier insertion of the thread between your teeth.
For dental concerns such as braces, using an interdental brush to floss can help make flossing an easy and smooth task.
There is the presence of dental diseases like gum disease.
Gum disease is the inflammation of the gums due to irritants such as plaque, bacteria, and food debris. This results in sensitive gums that easily bleed. If you feel pain during flossing and you feel tenderness in your gums, it may be because of gum disease.
Urgent treatment is important to reverse gum disease. This can be done through professional teeth cleaning and proper at-home oral hygiene care.
Periodontal disease may also cause pain when flossing.
Untreated gum disease will eventually result in periodontal disease. This is an irreversible infection involving the gums and the bones surrounding the tooth. This type of dental disease can also cause pain when flossing, especially if significant damage is involved.
Teeth misalignment can cause flossing issues.
Tight spaces between the teeth due to crowding may cause difficulty with flossing. So, your dentist may recommend a thinner type of dental floss to make it easier. This avoids putting too much pressure in inserting the floss which can cause scratches on the gums.
Another option to consider is waterflossing. This approach to flossing uses water pressure to clean those hard-to-floss areas. Waterflossing is also gentle to the gums, preventing discomfort during use.
Gum inflammation from medications or medical conditions may cause flossing discomfort.
Gum swelling can also be caused by certain conditions such as pregnancy or vitamin deficiencies. Some medications for hypertension and seizures also have gum inflammation as their side effect.
These are prone to tender gums that are sensitive even with the slightest force. So, flossing can be a bit difficult for patients in this situation.
Check on your existing tooth restoration or other dental work…
Overhanging dental fillings and extended dentures and orthodontic wires are some dental works that can irritate the gums. This can already be uncomfortable on its own but can be further triggered whenever you floss.
If you have problems with your existing dental work or appliance, schedule an appointment with your dentist for repair to prevent further problems.
When to Consult a Dentist
The bottom line is that flossing should not be painful. If there is any discomfort, it should be very minimal and tolerable. So, if you feel any pain whenever you floss, it may be because of underlying factors such as gum or periodontal disease.
Ultimately, the best time to consult your dentist for your flossing concerns is as soon as possible. Your dentist can assess what the problem is and provide proper treatment to resolve the pain. They can also discuss how painless and proper flossing should be done.
Overcoming Gum Pain While Flossing
But if you cannot visit your dentist just yet, here are some tips for you to reduce or eliminate gum pain:
- Revisit your flossing techniques
Most of the time, pain during flossing can be blamed on how you floss. Learn and apply the proper flossing method to prevent pain as you get used to routine flossing.
- Reinforce your oral hygiene
Gum disease can be reversed with good oral hygiene. This eliminates discomfort attributed to swelling gums. Use fluoride-rich toothpaste and try an antibacterial mouthwash to improve gum health.
- Find the right floss for you
Improve your flossing experience by using the best type of floss for your dental concern. Try a thinner floss if you have tight spaces between your teeth!
Lastly, some may find it painful because they are just not used to it. Start the flossing journey now, be consistent, and see how you get more accustomed and comfortable to it.
Need help with your flossing? Our dental team can help! Learn more about the proper flossing technique to improve and maintain your oral hygiene by booking your appointment with us at Midpark Dental today.
Kutumia kitambaa cha meno ni sehemu muhimu ya maisha yako ya kila siku. Kutumia kitambaa cha meno kwa njia inayofaa huondoa kwa ufanisi mabaki ya ngozi, chembechembe za chakula, bakteria, na uchafu mwingine kati ya meno, eneo ambalo haliwezi kusafishwa kwa kupiga mswaki tu. Flossing inahakikisha kinywa chote ni safi, kuzuia magonjwa ya meno kama vile kuoza, ugonjwa wa taya, na pumzi mbaya. Kwa kusikitisha, bado wagonjwa wengi hawaelewi umuhimu wa kutumia kitambaa cha meno. Wengine huona ni vigumu au kuchosha kuiongeza kwenye utaratibu wao wa kawaida wa usafi wa mdomo. Wakati huohuo, wengine hulalamika juu ya maumivu au usumbufu wanapotumia kitambaa cha kumwagilia, kwa hiyo huamua kutofanya hivyo. Lakini kwa kutumia mbinu inayofaa, kutumia kitambaa cha meno hakupaswi kuwa chenye kuumiza hata kidogo. Baada ya kujifunza jinsi ya kutumia kamba ya udongo, ni rahisi zaidi kutumia kamba hiyo na inaweza kukusaidia sana katika afya ya mdomo wako. Sababu za maumivu ya nywele wakati wa kutumia floss: Kwa sababu ya matatizo ya kutumia floss, kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na maumivu ya nywele wakati wa kutumia floss. "Kama wewe ni mmoja wa wale ambao wana tatizo hili, unaweza kuwa na ajabu ""Kwa nini gum yangu kuumiza wakati mimi floss?""Hizi ni baadhi ya sababu zinazowezekana: Unaweza kuwa flossing vibaya... Mbinu mbaya flossing inaweza kusababisha maumivu, hasa kama floss ni kusukuma kwa nguvu sana dhidi ya meno au gum." Hapa ni jinsi ya floss kwa usahihi ili kuhakikisha kwamba mchakato ni laini lakini ufanisi: - Kupima mkono wa mbele urefu wa floss meno. - Shika kamba ya kulia kwa kidole gumba na kidole cha kiashiria. Acha inchi chache katikati kwa meno yako. - Weka kamba kati ya meno mawili na uifanye ipite polepole, ukisugua pande zote mbili za kila jino. - Unapofika chini ya taya, weka kamba ya jino katika umbo la C dhidi ya msingi wa jino. Hii husafisha nafasi iliyo kati ya jino na taya. - Rudia hatua hizi kwa meno yote na kutumia sehemu safi kama wewe hoja ya sehemu nyingine. Labda unatumia kitambaa cha kitambaa kwa ukali sana... Vitambaa vya kitambaa havipaswi kulazimishwa kushuka kwenye taya. Pia, epuka kuingiza dawa hiyo kwenye taya za jino. Hii inaweza kusababisha usumbufu kama inaweza scratch au bruise gum yako. Kumbuka kwamba kusafisha pande za meno yapasa kuwa jambo kuu la kutumia kitambaa cha meno, si kusafisha au kuharibu taya zako! Aina ya floss unayotumia pia inaweza kuwa sababu... Ikiwa una meno ya msongamano au wasiwasi mwingine wa meno, aina maalum ya floss inaweza kuwa sahihi zaidi kwa faraja iliyoimarishwa wakati wa flossing. Kuna meno mengi sana ambayo yanamaanisha kwamba kuna nafasi ndogo sana, kwa hiyo ni afadhali kutumia kitambaa nyembamba. Hii husaidia kwa urahisi kuingiza thread kati ya meno yako. Kwa ajili ya matatizo ya meno kama vile braces, kutumia brashi ya kati ya meno kwa floss inaweza kusaidia kufanya flossing kazi rahisi na laini. Kuna uwepo wa magonjwa ya meno kama vile ugonjwa wa taya. Ugonjwa wa taya ni uvimbe wa taya kwa sababu ya vitu vinavyofanya ngozi iogope kama vile mabaki ya ngozi, bakteria, na mabaki ya chakula. Hilo husababisha meno ya jino kuwa nyeti na kutokwa na damu kwa urahisi. Ikiwa unahisi maumivu wakati wa kutumia kamba ya jino na unahisi uchungu katika nywele zako, inaweza kuwa kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa nywele. Matibabu ya haraka ni muhimu ili kuzuia ugonjwa wa taya. Hilo laweza kufanywa kupitia kusafishwa kwa meno kwa ustadi na utunzaji mzuri wa usafi wa mdomo nyumbani. Ugonjwa wa meno yaweza pia kusababisha maumivu wakati wa kutumia kitambaa cha meno. Ugonjwa wa taya usiotibiwa hatimaye utasababisha ugonjwa wa periodontal. Hii ni maambukizo yasiyoweza kurekebishwa yanayohusisha taya na mifupa inayozunguka jino. Aina hii ya ugonjwa wa meno yaweza pia kusababisha maumivu wakati wa kutumia kitambaa cha meno, hasa ikiwa kuna uharibifu mkubwa. Kusawazisha meno kunaweza kusababisha matatizo ya kutumia kitambaa cha meno. Nafasi nyembamba kati ya meno kwa sababu ya msongamano yaweza kusababisha ugumu wa kutumia kamba ya meno. Kwa hiyo, daktari wako wa meno anaweza kupendekeza aina nyembamba zaidi ya kitambaa cha meno ili iwe rahisi zaidi. Hii inaepuka kuweka shinikizo kubwa sana katika kuingiza floss ambayo inaweza kusababisha scratches juu ya gum. Njia nyingine ya kufikiria ni kutumia maji ya kuyeyusha. Njia hii ya kutumia kitambaa cha kulia hutumia shinikizo la maji kusafisha sehemu hizo ambazo ni vigumu kutumia kitambaa cha kulia. Waterflossing pia ni laini kwa gum, kuzuia usumbufu wakati wa matumizi. Uvimbe wa nywele unaosababishwa na dawa au hali za kitiba waweza kusababisha usumbufu wa kutumia kitambaa cha meno. Uvimbe wa nywele unaweza pia kusababishwa na hali fulani kama vile ujauzito au upungufu wa vitamini. Dawa fulani za kutibu shinikizo la damu na mshtuko wa moyo pia huwa na athari ya kuambukiza taya. Hizi huwa na meno laini ambayo huwa nyeti hata kwa nguvu ndogo zaidi. Kwa hiyo, kutumia kitambaa cha meno kunaweza kuwa vigumu kwa wagonjwa katika hali hii. Kwa mfano, kama unafanya kazi ya kurekebisha meno yako au kazi nyingine ya meno, fimbo za meno zilizofungwa, na waya za orthodontic ni baadhi ya kazi za meno ambazo zinaweza kuchochea nywele. Hii tayari inaweza kuwa isiyofaa yenyewe lakini inaweza kusababisha zaidi wakati wowote unapoitumia kitambaa cha meno. Ikiwa una matatizo na vifaa vya meno yako, ratiba ya mkutano na daktari wako wa meno ili kurekebisha ili kuzuia matatizo zaidi. Wakati wa Kumwona Daktari wa Meno Jambo la msingi ni kwamba kutumia kitambaa cha meno hakupaswi kuwa chenye kuumiza. Ikiwa kuna usumbufu wowote, unapaswa kuwa mdogo sana na usioweza kuvumilika. Ikiwa unahisi maumivu wakati wowote unapotumia nyuzi za meno, inaweza kuwa kwa sababu ya sababu za msingi kama vile ugonjwa wa gum au periodontal. Wakati mzuri wa kumtafuta daktari wako wa meno ni mara moja tu. Daktari wako wa meno anaweza kujua tatizo ni nini na kutoa matibabu yanayofaa ili kupunguza maumivu. Wanaweza pia kuzungumzia jinsi ya kutumia kitambaa cha meno bila maumivu na kwa njia inayofaa. Kama wewe ni mgumu sana na unahitaji kutumia floss, unaweza kuwa na baadhi ya mapendekezo ya kupunguza au kuondoa maumivu ya meno: - Revisit mbinu yako flossing. Jifunze na utumie njia sahihi ya kutumia kitambaa cha meno ili kuzuia maumivu unapozoea kutumia kitambaa cha meno kwa ukawaida. - Tumia vizuri usafi wa mdomo Ugonjwa wa taya waweza kuondolewa kwa usafi mzuri wa mdomo. Hilo huondoa maumivu yanayotokana na uvimbe wa taya. Tumia dawa ya meno yenye fluoridi nyingi na jaribu dawa ya kuosha kinywa yenye dawa za kuua bakteria ili kuboresha afya ya taya. - Kupata floss haki kwa ajili yenu Kuboresha uzoefu wako flossing kwa kutumia aina bora ya floss kwa wasiwasi wako meno. Jaribu kutumia kitambaa nyembamba zaidi ikiwa una nafasi ndogo kati ya meno yako! Mwishowe, huenda wengine wakaona ni jambo lenye kuumiza kwa sababu hawajazoea. Anza safari ya kutumia kitambaa cha meno sasa, uwe thabiti, na uone jinsi unavyozoea na kuhisi vizuri zaidi. Je, unahitaji msaada na flossing yako? Timu yetu ya meno yaweza kusaidia! Kujifunza zaidi kuhusu jinsi ya kutumia floss na kuboresha usafi wa mdomo kwa kuweka miadi yako na sisi katika Midpark Dental leo.