Yeah, makes sense to me. I've definitely had my moments of flossing like I'm sawing down a tree or something, and my gums were NOT happy afterward, haha. Technique probably matters more than we realize—my dentist once gently called me out for being too aggressive. I thought I was just being thorough!
Once I consciously started being gentler and slowed down a bit, it actually did help with the irritation. But honestly, dental stuff is so weirdly personal—what works great for one person might not do anything for another. Could also be a combo thing: floss type PLUS technique PLUS whatever weird mood your gums are in that day... who knows. You're definitely not alone in overthinking though—welcome to the club, lol.
I've actually found flossing technique matters less for me personally, and it's more about the type of floss I use. Regular floss always irritated my gums, no matter how gentle I was. Switched to those little interdental brushes a few years ago, and it's been a game changer—way less irritation. Might just be my quirky gums, but sometimes the tool matters just as much as the technique...
Totally relate to this. Regular floss always left my gums feeling sore and even a bit swollen, no matter how careful I was. I hesitated for ages before trying those interdental brushes—mainly because I thought they were just another gimmicky dental thing that'd cost me extra money. But eventually gave in, bought a cheap pack to test... and yeah, huge difference. Glad I'm not the only one whose gums seem picky about flossing tools, haha.
"I hesitated for ages before trying those interdental brushes—mainly because I thought they were just another gimmicky dental thing that'd cost me extra money."
Yeah, I get the hesitation. I've eyed those brushes too, but honestly, the price tag always puts me off. Regular floss does irritate my gums sometimes, but I've found that switching to a softer, waxed floss helped a lot without needing to spend extra. Maybe it's just me being overly cautious with my budget, but has anyone else found cheaper alternatives that work just as well? Curious if it's really worth the upgrade...
I was skeptical about interdental brushes too, mostly because of the cost factor. But after my dentist kept mentioning them, I finally gave in and bought a small pack just to test. Honestly, I noticed a difference pretty quickly—less gum irritation and bleeding compared to flossing. Still, I get the budget concerns; those brushes aren't exactly cheap. What I've been doing lately is alternating between the brushes and regular floss every other day. It stretches out the lifespan of the brushes, and my gums seem happier overall. Might be worth trying something similar if you're curious but don't want to fully commit financially right away.
