Signs You May Be Flossing Too Aggressively

Brushing and flossing are two essential steps in your everyday oral health routine for having a healthy smile. Flossing, when done correctly, removes plaque, leftover food debris, and bacteria between your teeth, where your toothbrush is unable to reach. Dentists, along with other oral healthcare specialists know just how important flossing is to maintain the health of your gum tissue and teeth in order to avoid gum disease and other oral health issues later down the line. This is why dentists and other oral healthcare specialists strongly encourage keeping up with daily oral health habits, such as flossing. 

Although flossing is a crucial step to your oral health, it is important to know and understand that flossing too aggressively can be damaging to your gum tissues and tooth enamel. As a result, it is crucial that you know that flossing incorrectly can actually harm your oral health.

So, what are signs that you may be flossing too aggressively?

If you floss more than once or twice a day, it can lead to damage to your gumline, which can lead to root exposure. In addition, if you floss too much or too hard, it can cause your gums to bleed. When this happens, you are digging underneath your gumline, which can hurt your gums and even cause enamel wear over time. This is why we strongly recommend not to apply too much pressure when flossing to avoid such problems from occurring. Excessive pressure while flossing can be damaging to your gumline and teeth. Therefore, be sure to floss gently.

If you notice any bleeding or tenderness when flossing, these may be signs that you are either flossing too aggressively or too often. If the bleeding or tenderness of your gums persists, it is important to schedule a check-up. If you are unsure how to floss correctly, be sure to contact your dentist so he or she can show you how to do it correctly at your next appointment.

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