Flossing has been an important part of oral health over the years, and dentists have advised it as a reliable means to keep the teeth clean and healthy. However, many believe that over-flossing teeth can be detrimental or damage your teeth because of the process used to clean out the teeth.
Keeping a fresh breath goes beyond brushing your teeth daily.
You may even brush twice a day, and your teeth may still contain germs and bacteria. Due to this, flossing has been a reliable means for people to clear germs and bacteria hidden in their gums.
Many people have used flossing for their teeth and have attested its effectiveness in keeping their teeth clean. Along with flossing and brushing teeth, many people claim to have stronger teeth.
However, there have been issues concerning whether flossing teeth constantly is good or bad or whether it should be moderate for dental health.
Flossing is also known as dental floss. It is a process of using a cord of thin filaments to remove plaque and food that the toothbrush cannot reach.
The question is if flossing can damage gums.
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Does Flossing damage teeth?
Flossing doesn’t damage teeth. However, one of the reasons why flossing injury occurs is when individuals floss too much.
Many forget that the gum does not like too much pressure, and the process used to floss may weaken teeth if care isn’t taken.
As a result of this, people who are yet to try floss have asked if over-flossing gums can affect or cause injury.
Whenever gum damage from flossing occurs on an individual tooth, the cause is excessive flossing.
Flossing does not damage teeth. It is advisable to ask a dentist how many times you should do it daily.
Therefore, if you have not tried flossing, consult a dentist for advice or ask those who have done it and have no problems.
Can Floss Damage Teeth gum?
Floss should be an essential part of the home oral healthcare routine for individuals and families. Flossing allows you to remove leftover food debris, plaque, and bacteria between the teeth, especially where your toothbrush cannot penetrate. Many dentists believe flossing is the perfect means to keep gum tissue healthy and avoid gum problems.
However, when flossing becomes too much, it will likely affect your gum. When you engage in excessive flossing, there is a possibility of injuring your gum. Therefore, it is not advisable to floss too much because there is a possibility of damaged gums from flossing.
What Does Not Flossing Do To Your Teeth
Although some people do not see much importance in flossing because they believe a hard brush is enough to remove germs or plaque.
However, some foods are hidden inside the gum beyond the brush, which may become bacteria if they stay too long.
There are implications when you do not floss your teeth, and the first one is gum disease.
If you allow food particles and plaque to stay long between your teeth, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. And gum disease is a significant cause of tooth loss.
It also leads to bleeding due to plaque build-up at the gumline. Furthermore, tartar is a hardened mineral substance that occurs when you don’t floss, and only a dentist can remove it if it grows on your gum.
The most serious part is the tooth cavities which are capable of damaging your entire teeth. Therefore, you must floss to keep your dental health safe and sound.
What Is Flossing?
Flossing is a process for removing food and plaque from the teeth using dental floss. Whenever individuals have a toothache or gum problem, dentists have always advised flossing because it cleans effectively.
For clarity, dental floss, which is used in flossing, is a process whereby a cord of thin filaments is used to clean the areas between the teeth. If flossing is used to clean the teeth, why do situations like damaged gums from flossing or flossing injury often occur?
Is Dental Floss Harmful?
Flossing is good for your teeth, but flossing too much can cause problems for your gum which is likely to weaken your teeth.
Over flossing gums often weaken teeth, causes teeth gaps, and results in flossing injury. Due to this, many people have decided against flossing because they do not want to create a problem for themselves.
However, dental floss is not harmful except when you floss too much, and dentists have advised people not to do it too much. Flossing does not affect teeth, and those who have had problems through it result from over flossed gums.
Is Dental Floss Toxic?
Many have often wondered if dental floss is toxic. The answer is no! Dental floss can only become harmful when you floss too much, and in the process, the gum becomes weakened.
To avoid being among those who described flossing as toxic, avoid over flossing. Once you can keep to this, you will realize there is no harm in flossing your teeth.
Can flossing make your teeth loose?
Although flossing is good for the teeth, it can lead to loss of teeth if you do not do it gently or do it too much. Although the loss of teeth does not happen instantly, it starts with aggressive flossing, which gradually weakens the gum.
As time goes by, your teeth foundation becomes shaken, and it falls off, especially when you eat something hard. Therefore, if you floss aggressively, you will likely lose your teeth.
Does Flossing Make Your Teeth Stronger?
When your gum is free from plaque, and there is no hidden food between your teeth, it becomes stronger.
The purpose of flossing is to ensure there is nothing hidden in your teeth that can amount to a breeding ground for bacteria.
The purpose of flossing is to ensure sound gum and healthy teeth. Yes, flossing can make your teeth stronger.
How To Floss Teeth Without Bleeding
There is one way to floss your teeth properly, and it is not flossing aggressively or over flossing.
You must understand that your gum is a sensitive place that needs to be handled gently.
Do not floss aggressively and avoid over-flossing. This will help you avoid injury that will lead to small or excessive bleeding.
3 Flossing Mistakes That Damage Teeth
There are mistakes that often happen when flossing your teeth, and some result in damaged gum if care is not taken. Below are some of them that often occur:
1. Aggressive Flossing
Aggressive flossing is trying to get plaque off your teeth in a rough manner. Many damaged gums from teeth is as a result of many individuals not being gentle with their teeth and gums.
Many individuals do not take the time to remove plaque and food off their teeth because they want to do it quickly.
Whenever you want to get plaque and food off your teeth, remember you are doing it on a sensitive surface.
2. Pressuring The Gum
Putting pressure on your gum often results in flossing injury because it is not supposed to be pressured.
Whenever you put pressure on your gum, especially when you feel there is something stuck on it, it affects the teeth or gets your gum damaged.
You are supposed to do it gently until the particle is removed, and through this, you can avoid gum damage from flossing.
3. Frequent Flossing
When you floss your teeth too much, you might be reducing the longevity of your teeth, and old age is when it begins to affect your gum. You will easily lose your teeth and may have to stop eating certain foods.
Therefore, flossing too much is not good for your gum. Rather have a specific time you dedicate to it.
Sometimes, it does not even get to old age before you lose teeth if you suffer from over-flossed gums.
Can Water Flossing Damaged Teeth
Water flossing seems to be another alternative to flossing because there is no harm involved. It is gentle on the teeth and removes food and plaque without causing further problems.
It gently removes whatever may breed bacteria in your teeth. In short, water flossing is safe and advisable.
How Often Should You Floss?
While we understand your love for fresh breath and healthy teeth, there is no need to have damaged gums from flossing.
If you are wondering how many times you should floss in a day, just once is enough to remove whatever that is hanging and lurking between your teeth.
This claim has been backed by American Dental Association (ADA). Flossing once per day is enough to remove bacteria that can release acid to feed on your enamel, leading to cavities.
Should I Brush or Floss First?
Some people have asked if it is ideal for brushing first or flossing to make brushing easy. There are some people who believe when you brush first, flossing will be easy.
While some argue that flossing should come first while brushing will finish off the remaining plaques, germs, or bacteria in the teeth.
However, it does not matter the one you choose to do first because they are both working for the same purpose.
Whether you decide to brush your teeth and then floss, later on, the main thing is that your teeth are germ-free.
Although flossing seems to be ideal first because it performs the function that a brush cannot, and if you decide to brush after then, it makes everything better.
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Signs of Over Flossed Gum
Too much flossing causes injury. Therefore, it is advised that you do not have it too often in order to preserve your dental health. When you engage in excessive flossing, here are some signs you will discover on your gum:
- Sore gum after flossing.
- Your teeth will start looking longer as a result of your gum receding.
- The gum becomes red, irritated, and painful even after brushing and flossing.
- They become swollen, irritated, and red.
Once you discover the following mentioned above, it means you are flossing too much, and as a result, you have developed damaged gums from flossing.
Furthermore, it is important to know that aggressive flossing also results in over flossed gum which causes further tooth problems.
Is there any alternative that prevents Flossing from damaging teeth?
keep in mind flossing doesn’t damage teeth. The function of flossing is to keep your teeth safe from germs and bacteria.
If you are trying to avoid gum damage from flossing, viable alternatives like Waterpik Cordless Express Water Flosser can help and serve the same function.
If you are not sure of how to floss correctly, it is advisable to contact a trusted authority to give you guidance on what to do.
Flossing is considered an interdental cleaning that conveniently removes dirt from your teeth. You can reach out to your dentist for advice.
