"lower pressure, warmer water, and gentler angles made all the difference."
Totally agree with this. When I first started water flossing, I was convinced higher pressure meant cleaner teeth—big mistake. My gums were sore and even bled a bit, which freaked me out. Honestly, gums can be pretty finicky, especially if they're not used to the change. Also, make sure you're not flossing too long in one spot; quick, gentle sweeps seem to help avoid irritation. It took me a while to trust the lower settings, but now my gums feel way healthier.
Same here, I learned the hard way that higher pressure doesn't equal better results. I was convinced I had to blast away plaque like it was stuck-on food on dishes or something...yeah, not my brightest idea. My gums got super sensitive and started feeling irritated all day. Honestly, I almost gave up water flossing altogether because I thought it just wasn't for me. But after dialing down the pressure and warming up the water a bit, things improved pretty quickly. Still get anxious about accidentally hurting my gums again, so I'm extra careful now—shorter sessions, gentle angles, and definitely no more power-washing mode. Glad I'm not the only one who went through this!
"I was convinced I had to blast away plaque like it was stuck-on food on dishes or something...yeah, not my brightest idea."
Haha, I can definitely relate to this! It's a common misconception that more pressure equals cleaner teeth, but gums are pretty delicate and need gentle care. Glad you found a method that works better for you. It takes some trial and error, but once you get the hang of it, water flossing can be a real game changer for gum health. You're definitely not alone in this experience.
Same here—I used to think scrubbing harder meant healthier gums, until my dentist gently explained otherwise. Apparently, aggressive brushing or flossing can actually push your gums back and cause sensitivity (learned that the hard way...). Switching to a softer toothbrush and easing up on pressure made a huge difference for me. Water flossers are great too, but it took me forever to get used to the weird sensation at first. Glad I'm not the only one who had to rethink their brushing habits!
Totally relate to the water flosser weirdness...felt like I was power-washing my gums at first, haha. Curious though, has anyone noticed if mouthwash helps with gum sensitivity, or does it just sting more? I've heard mixed things and haven't tried it myself yet.
