Have you ever asked yourself, “Why does flossing hurt? How can people tolerate it every single day?” We hear you. Even when flossing doesn’t hurt, it’s not exactly fun. When it hurts, it’s so tempting to throw it out the window altogether.

But we’re here to remind you that flossing is essential for your long-term oral health, and if it hurts every time you do it, your mouth is trying to tell you something. What message is it sending? Let’s do a little digging to find out.

1: you’re not flossing enough

This one might sound contradictory. If flossing hurts, shouldn’t you stop doing it? Not always. When flossing hurts and causes your gums to bleed, it might be a sign that you’re not flossing often enough.

How do you know if flossing is hurting because of infrequency vs. a true oral issue such as gum disease? Here are a couple of important questions to ask yourself.

• Is flossing a new habit for me? If so, it’s likely that your gums and teeth simply aren’t used to it yet. After about a week, it should stop causing bleeding and feel relatively painless. If you’re a long-time flosser, and your gums begin to bleed and feel sore out of nowhere, it’s likely a deeper issue that you’ll need to run by your dentist.
• When my gums bleed after flossing, does the bleeding stop quickly? If the answer is yes, then keep at it....your gums should get used to flossing in no time. If the bleeding persists, you might have some level of tartar buildup, gum disease, or both that require a professional exam.

If the issue is gum disease or another oral issue, your dentist will be able to remove tartar buildup, give your teeth and gums a deep clean, and recommend treatment steps.

2: you haven’t mastered how to floss / you don’t have the best floss

In our previous article, we cover exactly how to floss, revealing pro tips for a smooth flossing experience. One of our top tips involves forming a U-shape with the floss around each tooth. This allows you to hug the tooth’s surface without having to place all of your downward force on your gums. This way, you can remove as much plaque as possible (on the front, back, and sides of your tooth’s surface) without causing damage and bleeding on your gum line.

If you feel like you’ve already nailed down your flossing technique, it might be time to ask yourself if you’re treating your mouth to the best floss or not. Many of the big-brand flosses out there are crafted with Teflon-based threads, which can sometimes feel too “hard” on your gums and also introduce PFAS (harmful chemicals) into your mouth. On the other hand, many plant-based flosses rip apart the moment you start using them. In our book, these options don’t win the award for best dental floss.

In other words, if your dental floss is not carefully crafted for performance, it could be the reason you experience pain and bleeding (or frustration) after flossing. You can smile brighter knowing that the soon-to-launch Davids floss is meticulously designed for performance. It’s woven with hundreds of soft (yet gently scrubby) threads....and coated in smooth wax infused with cocoa butter and nano hydroxyapatite. As the wax allows the floss to glide smoothly between your teeth, the cocoa butter works to repel plaque and the nano hydroxyapatite particles help to remineralize your enamel (in those hard-to-reach crevices). Not to mention, our floss is free of harmful PFAS, making it a safe dental floss for your whole family.

3: you have tightly-spaced teeth

Do you feel like flossing is so much harder for you compared to everyone around you? You might have tighter teeth! But don’t worry, with proper technique and the best floss, you can reach those tight spaces without having to jam the floss into your gums.

Our high-performance floss is woven with numerous threads, so it can compress, adapt to your teeth, and squeeze into those tight crevices without ripping. Keep an eye out for our carefully crafted + safe dental floss. It’s made to adapt to all mouths, even those with tight teeth!

4: you might have gum disease

If you floss and the bleeding, redness, and discomfort linger for a long time, gum disease might be the culprit. There are different stages of gum disease, and sometimes the beginning stages aren’t so obvious. You might notice lingering redness and inflammation on your gum line. You might also experience bad breath, feel a rough tartar coating on your teeth, or notice “pockets” forming around your teeth.

With gum disease, you don’t want to just continue flossing and hope the pain subsides. It’s essential to get your gums checked out by a dentist, so you can start to follow a treatment plan to get back on track. Once resolved, it’s so important to diligently keep up with your oral care routine....making time for flossing with the best dental floss (Davids), brushing with natural toothpaste, tongue scraping, and even swishing with natural mouthwash to keep your gums healthy and strong.

5: you struggle with sensitive teeth

Do you feel like the pain from flossing is originating from your teeth rather than your gums? Do you also feel tooth pain when you eat hot or cold foods? Sensitivity might be the cause. Experts estimate that 1 in 8 Americans experience tooth sensitivity, so just know you’re not alone if you experience an ache when brushing and flossing.

If you feel mild sensitivity during your oral care routine, Davids hydroxyapatite toothpaste and hydroxyapatite floss can provide daily relief (which we’ll cover in the next section). However, if you’ve experienced severe sensitivity over a long period, we strongly encourage you to visit your dentist and explore different treatment plans.

don’t worry, Davids can help

There are multiple reasons why flossing might be painful, but with our recent launch of innovative floss, addressing this discomfort has never been easier. Our commitment to simple, natural, and accessible oral care solutions is evident in our product range, meticulously developed to enhance your dental regimen.

• remove plaque: our antiplaque formulas are packed with gentle, abrasive ingredients designed to 'exfoliate' persistent plaque and bacteria without damaging your enamel. By integrating the use of our natural toothpaste into your routine, you pave the way for a safer and healthier flossing experience while safeguarding against tooth decay and gum disease.
• soothe sensitivity: for those with sensitive teeth, our sensitive+whitening hydroxyapatite toothpaste is a game-changer. Lab tests confirm its ability to remineralize enamel and reduce sensitivity swiftly, making flossing a more comfortable endeavor. And now, our hydroxyapatite floss further extends these benefits, delivering revolutionary minerals into the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, alleviating sensitivity from all angles.

With the introduction of our high-performance floss, we at Davids are excited to support your journey towards a smoother and more comfortable flossing routine, alongside our celebrated natural toothpaste, bamboo toothbrush, and professional stainless steel tongue scraper.

buy now.