7 Common Reasons Why Your Teeth Hurt After Flossing

What if taking care of your teeth actually caused more pain?

Whenever you visit the dentist, they’ll encourage you to floss every day. Unfortunately, you may discover that your teeth hurt after flossing. But this doesn’t mean you should stop doing it.

Instead, it means you must find what’s really causing the pain. Wondering why your own teeth hurt after you put the floss away? Keep reading to discover the answers!

1. New At This

In life, sometimes the best explanations are also the simplest. And if your teeth hurt after flossing, there may be a very simple reason for this: you’re new at all of this!

Flossing, like brushing, requires an actual technique. And mastering that technique takes a lot of practice. If you are new at this, you might floss too hard and cause your gums to ache and bleed.

If you are new at flossing, we recommend slowing down and taking your time. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist about proper flossing techniques or even pull up some “how-to” videos on Youtube.

However, if you’ve been flossing for a while and are still experiencing pain, you’re likely experiencing another issue. Keep reading to discover what it might be and how you can fix it.

2. Sensitive Teeth

When it comes to tooth pain, everything is relative. For example, the pain you are experiencing may not be that extreme. But it may feel that way because you suffer from sensitive teeth.

Tooth sensitivity (also known as dentin hypersensitivity) can be caused by a number of factors. Some people are more genetically predisposed to it than others. And other people experience sensitivity simply because they have been brushing and/or flossing too hard.

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. In the meantime, you may want to use toothpaste and mouthwash specially formulated for sensitive teeth.

3. Tooth Decay and You

Have you ever thought about the real “goal” of dental care? Your primary objective is to remove the harmful bacteria from your mouth. And things like cavities and infections are a result of that bacteria building up.

This can lead to tooth decay in particular areas of your mouth. And flossing in those areas is likely to cause intense pain. To make matters worse, tooth decay often occurs in the exact spaces you floss (between the teeth), so flossing with tooth decay is almost certain to cause this pain.

If you suspect tooth decay, we recommend visiting your dentist right away. They may be able to conduct deep cleaning and other measures that help deal with the decay and ultimately remove the pain that comes from flossing.

4. Gum Disease

When you have tooth pain from flossing, you’re probably asking a simple question: “what’s the worst thing that could happen here?” In this case, the worst thing that can happen is that you have gum disease.

Gum disease is also known as gingivitis. If you have regular issues with your dental care and oral hygiene, it can lead to gum disease. Some of the symptoms of this include bad breath, swollen gums, and bleeding gums.

The bad news is that flossing when you have gum disease is likely to cause pain. The good news is that flossing is one of the best things you can do to remove plaque and tartar so that your teeth can heal. However, they won’t be fully healed until you get proper treatment from a qualified dentist.

5. Loose Dental Restorations

Have you had a lot of dental work over your life? In that case, pain from flossing may be caused by things like loose dental restorations.

“Restorations” refers to things like crowns over your teeth. All crowns eventually need to be replaced because when they loosen, it exposes many different nerves. And flossing when you have such nerves exposed can lead to intense pain.

You may not have a crown, but even simple fillings will crack over time. Flossing when such fillings are cracked can be similarly painful.

The only way to really fix these issues is to visit the dentist. By the time you leave the session, you’ll feel like you have a brand new mouth!

6. Issues With Braces and Retainers

Do you have braces or a retainer? In that case, flossing may cause pain under certain conditions.

For example, if you have recently had an adjustment to your braces, pain after flossing is natural. In that case, your teeth likely hurt because of the adjustment and not because of the way you are flossing.

However, flossing technique is usually to blame if you have a permanent retainer. The simple truth is that flossing with a retainer is more difficult than flossing without one. With patience and practice, you can master the right techniques and make the pain go away entirely.

7. Rough Toothbrush

If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering what is wrong with how you floss. But did you know that the main issue may actually be your toothbrush?

Generally speaking, a soft-bristled toothbrush will help clean your teeth better. If you’ve been using a hard-bristled toothbrush, it may lead to some of the issues we’ve already discussed.

For example, using an uncomfortable toothbrush for too long can make your teeth painfully sensitive. And if it isn’t cleaning your teeth that well, it can lead to tooth decay and even gum disease.

Long story short? Consider throwing out the old toothbrush and seeing if that helps with pain after flossing.

Teeth Hurt After Flossing? What To Do Next

Now you know why teeth hurt after flossing. But do you know who you can trust with all your dental needs?

Here at Westport Dental, we provide the service and care that you and your community deserve. To see how we can make your mouth feel brand new, contact us today!

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Why Do My Teeth Hurt After Flossing?

Cleaning between the teeth is an important, yet often forgotten step in daily oral hygiene routines. Some people experience pain in their gums and teeth after flossing, which discourages them from doing it every day. Pain from flossing, or interdental cleaning, is a common problem that makes it more difficult to properly maintain your oral health. While it may not be fun to deal with pain when cleaning your mouth, flossing is too important of a process to skip. Thankfully, there are several explanations for what could be causing this pain, many of which can be fixed.

What causes your teeth to hurt when you floss? Continue reading to learn what could be causing the pain and how you can prevent it.

Why Is Flossing So Important?

Before going into the reasons why your teeth may hurt after flossing, you should know why flossing is so important. Cleaning in between your teeth helps to further reduce the likelihood of gum disease and tooth decay.¹ When we brush our teeth, the bristles on our toothbrushes cannot reach the surfaces between the teeth.¹ Using an interdental cleaner, like dental floss, helps to remove plaque and food that gets stuck between the teeth. ¹ Plaque that is not removed from the teeth hardens into tartar, which can only be removed by a dental professional.¹ The formation of tartar makes it harder to clean your teeth and leads to gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.¹

Ways That Flossing Can Cause Pain

Getting plaque and other debris out of your teeth doesn’t have to hurt. Knowing what’s causing the pain that occurs when you floss is the first step to having a pain-free flossing experience. Some possible reasons for pain after flossing include:

1. Not Flossing Enough

If you don’t clean between your teeth often, it may take a second for your teeth to get used to it. Feeling pain or discomfort after flossing for the first time is normal.² Getting adjusted to a regular cleaning process may be a little painful, but it’s important to stick with it. Once you establish a regular brushing and interdental cleaning routine, the pain should go away within a week or two. ² If you continue feeling pain after more than two weeks, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist to find out what could be the problem.²

2. Improper Flossing Technique

Do you floss regularly but still feel pain? Chances are, you may be flossing incorrectly. If you’re doing it too hard, you may be damaging the tissue between your teeth.² Be sure to not be too gentle either, because then you may not be getting everything out.² When using dental floss, be sure to guide the thread between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion and gently wrap around the side of the tooth.³ Some people also have trouble holding dental floss or feel awkward using it. If you find using dental floss to be difficult, discuss with your dental hygienist about using alternative interdental cleaning devices.³

There’s no right or wrong time to floss. When you want to floss is up to you – some people like to brush their teeth before flossing, while others prefer flossing after brushing. ¹

3. Flossing with the Wrong Devices

It might seem like a given that flossing is typically done with dental floss or other traditional flossing tools. However, if you have a nagging piece of food stuck between your teeth, it can be hard to resist the urge to find whatever you have on hand to remove it. One study shows that most Americans have used unusual items to clean between their teeth at some point.² Some of these items include fingernails, folding paper, cutlery, safety pins and even strands of hair.² In fact, 42 percent of people who used these unconventional items also reported that they experienced pain.² In order to effectively clean between the teeth and minimize the risk of pain, stick to using tools that are meant to be used for interdental cleaning such as dental picks, dental floss, tiny interdental brushes and water flossers.²

4. Gum Disease and Tooth Decay

Gum disease and tooth decay can generally cause pain in your teeth. Two common symptoms of gum disease are red and swollen gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing.⁴ While there is typically no discomfort with gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, later stages of gum disease can cause irritation and stimulate a chronic inflammatory response where the tissues and bones that support the teeth are destroyed.⁴ Symptoms of tooth decay include toothaches, infections that can lead to a painful abscess, and tooth pain.⁵ If you suspect that you have either of these conditions, schedule an appointment with your dentist for further examination.

5. Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity doesn’t just affect you when you’re eating hot or cold foods. If you have tooth sensitivity, brushing and flossing may occasionally cause you to wince in pain.⁶ Your teeth may become more sensitive when your enamel, or the protective layer on your teeth wear away and dentin is exposed.⁶ Dentin contains microscopic tubules, and these tubules allow temperatures and acidic foods to reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. ⁶ Tooth decay, fractured teeth and worn fillings are some examples of conditions that can cause sensitivity.⁶ The type of treatment depends upon what is causing the sensitivity. Your dentist may suggest one of a variety of treatments such as a desensitizing toothpaste to use at home.⁶ Desensitizing toothpastes contain ingredients that can help block sensations from the tooth surface to the nerve.⁶

If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, try brushing with a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum Fresh & Clean Toothpaste. Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum is a dual action toothpaste that is formulated to relieve tooth sensitivity and improve gum health. By building a layer over sensitive areas—effectively relieving tooth sensitivity—* this toothpaste targets and removes plaque bacteria** to improve gum health. For a toothpaste that helps relieve sensitivity* while gently removing stains for whiter teeth, try Sensitivity & Gum Whitening Toothpaste.

If you are experiencing pain when cleaning between your teeth, make sure that you are flossing properly and regularly. Consult with your dentist to find out what can be causing the pain or what you may be doing wrong. Visit the Sensodyne website for more oral health tips and to learn about sensitivity relief products.

*with twice daily brushing

**plaque bacteria associated with gingivitis to help reduce swollen, bleeding gums.

Increased tooth sensitivity after professional cleaning

After professional cleaning, especially after cleaning the subgingival area, the teeth may become excessively sensitive for a while. Gradually, this feeling will disappear, and your teeth and gums will be healthier than before. If the increased sensitivity of the teeth that has arisen after professional oral hygiene persists longer than usual, the dentist will provide you with the necessary assistance and give recommendations.

Professional teeth cleaning

The only way to get rid of calcified plaque, ie tartar, is to have your teeth professionally cleaned in the dentist’s office. Tartar most often forms on the surface of the teeth along the gum line or under the gum line, as well as in other hard-to-reach areas. A dentist or hygienist removes it with the help of special tools, scalers. This procedure is called the removal of dental deposits. Also, the hygienist can smooth the surface of the root – remove plaque and calculus from the upper part of the tooth roots by inserting an instrument between the tooth and the gum.

Before this treatment, the gums may be inflamed and swollen. Sometimes between the gum and the tooth even deep gaps are formed, the so-called periodontal pockets, in which bacteria accumulate. Removal of dental plaque and smoothing of the root surface allows you to get rid of these problems, but the procedure itself can cause discomfort and bleeding of the gums. If the dentist has reason to believe that the cleaning process will be especially unpleasant for the patient, he may use local anesthesia.

What happens next

General soreness, tooth sensitivity and bleeding gums are normal responses of oral tissues to professional teeth cleaning. Some of these reactions are caused by instruments coming into contact with inflamed, easily bleeding gums. Other reactions are related to the fact that as a result of this procedure, those parts of the teeth that were previously covered with plaque or calculus are exposed. Where there is gum recession, scaling exposes the neck or root of the tooth, and it takes time for the teeth to adjust to the new condition. Since the neck and root are not protected by strong enamel, they are more sensitive than the crown of the tooth.

Sensitive teeth

Dentists believe that normal bleeding, discomfort and increased sensitivity of teeth after professional oral hygiene can last no longer than a week. With careful and regular oral hygiene, swelling, hypersensitivity and bleeding of the gums decrease gradually, but the feeling of general discomfort in most patients disappears in one to two days. As for the increased sensitivity of the teeth, in everyday life – especially when drinking hot drinks and cold food, chewing food and brushing your teeth – it is quite difficult to avoid discomfort, but after a week they should stop bothering you.

Dental care after professional cleaning

Careful dental care after professional oral hygiene promotes gum healing by reducing exposure to irritants that cause pain and excessive sensitivity. Avoid flossing for at least a day; While your gums are still sore, gently brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Avoid foods and drinks that trigger discomfort. If tooth sensitivity persists for more than a week after a professional cleaning, or if you have other problems, make an appointment with a dentist who will check how well the gums are healing, and possibly apply a special professional tool to sensitive areas of the teeth.

Dental hypersensitivity after professional cleaning is not a problem that requires immediate medical attention: you can manage it yourself using a special toothpaste and watching your diet. If symptoms persist for more than a week, contact your dentist, but remember that mistakes in your oral care may also be the cause of discomfort.

Why teeth become more sensitive after ultrasonic cleaning

Ultrasonic scaling is a modern way to get rid of hard deposits that cause oral infections. This is a safe and comfortable procedure that is shown to everyone, even pregnant women. But there is an exception to the rule – these are patients with thin damaged enamel, on which ultrasonic exposure can cause pain both during sanitation and after it. Therefore, before going for this procedure, it is necessary to consult a dentist.

What is ultrasonic cleaning

Ultrasonic cleaning uses special dental equipment – an ultrasonic scaler. The principle of its operation is to generate ultrasonic waves, which, when they hit the surface of the tooth, soften plaque of varying degrees of density and remove it. In order to achieve the maximum effect, the amplitude and frequency of the waves are adjusted individually for each patient. The surface of the tooth after treatment becomes smooth and shiny, and also brightens by 1-2 tones.

Why teeth can hurt after ultrasonic cleaning

If a patient has a toothache after ultrasonic cleaning, this can be caused by two reasons. First of all – increased sensitivity of the teeth associated with defects or damage to the enamel. Therefore, before using this service, you should strengthen the tooth enamel with fluoride-containing products and carry out the procedure of deep fluoridation of the teeth in a dental clinic. The second cause of pain after ultrasonic cleaning is inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity: periodontal disease, gingivitis, caries and others. Removal of tartar may be necessary to treat these conditions. In this case, to relieve the patient of pain during the procedure, dentists use local anesthesia. The doctor will also prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to take after ultrasonic cleaning.

What to do if your teeth hurt after ultrasonic cleaning

You can relieve pain after ultrasonic cleaning at home. Applications with antimicrobial anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Metrogil-denta, Traumeel S and others) will help relieve inflammation, stop pain, and relieve swelling of the soft tissues of the oral cavity. If the neck of the tooth is especially sensitive, toothpastes containing fluoride and herbal rinses should be used to care for the oral cavity. If a set of home hygiene procedures does not help relieve pain and / or it intensifies, then you need to visit a dental clinic, where specialists will select an adequate treatment.

Expert opinion

Strict adherence to the recommendations of the dentist for oral care will help to avoid pain after ultrasonic scaling. Doctors advise on the first day after the procedure to brush your teeth every time after eating, using a soft brush and toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

It is also necessary to refuse for the first time from taking cold, hot, spicy and sour foods, which have an aggressive effect on sensitive enamel.

Agree, these are quite simple and feasible medical prescriptions! If they are followed, the removal of tartar by ultrasound will be extremely comfortable – after all, this is the safest and most painless way to get rid of tartar, which is used in modern dentistry.

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