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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Damaged Gingiva With Floss. Had Irritation, Gum Swelled, Aching, Bleeding. Used Rinse Solution. How To Cure?

Hello. I guess I damaged my gingiva with floss like 24 hours ago. I had an ırrıtatıon sürüngeni the day ilke as film there's somethıng stuck between my two certain teeth but there wasn't anything. Now the gum between that teeth is swollen and aching, probably bleeding too. After I brushed my teeth, I chewed rubbing alcohol to numb the area then used the rinse solution. It's still aching. How can I avoid a possible infection, or cure it if it has already started.
Thanks.
Wed, 7 Aug 2013
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Dentist 's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query here.

It is good to know that you floss your teeth regularly. Flossing done in a correct way helps in maintaining good oral health. But wrong or improper method of flossing may damage or hurt the gums.

I presumed you lodged the floss forcefully inside the tight contacts of your teeth which in turn lead to hurting your gums. Floss should be used in sawing motion and never lodged forcefully. The floss would have even torn and residual may have been left in the contacts of your teeth.I would advise you to not irritate the area further by rubbing or brushing. A visit to a dentist will help.Meanwhile just do lukewarm saline rinses.

Take care

Dr.Sushma Rajesh


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Dentist Dr. Farah Hussain's  Response
hello ,

Thanks for writing your query,

Your clinical history suggests you have traumatised the gingival tissue by flossing in between the teeth.

Because of the truama to the gingiva there is pain and swelling do not worry you just need symptomatic treatment to cure this.


i would suggest you to go for symptomatic treatment at home like gargling with lukewarm saline water or antiseptic mouthwash like chlorhexidine or betadine.

Apply oral antiseptic ,analgesic ointments like dentogel or mucogel topically over the affected area.

Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent infection in the area.

i hope this helps ,

take care.
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Dentist Dr. Sonia Nayab's  Response
hi there
thanks for asking your query

improper flossing technique leads to injury of of gums,which cause pain,bleeding and discomfort
first you have to learn te proper flossing technique

1.Use a piece of dental floss which is approximately 20-25 cm long. Tie both ends to make a loop. Use the thumbs and the forefingers of both hands to hold the floss, leaving about 2 cm of floss in between
2.Use a sawing motion to slide the floss into the interdental space.
3.Wrap around one tooth making a "C" shape and gently pull down to the deepest part of the gingival sulcus, and then slide it up and down against the tooth. Then wrap around the adjacent tooth and repeat the up and down motions.
4.Clean all the other adjacent tooth surfaces in the same way.

for a trauma caused by flossing apply soothing gel like somogel or bonjela twice a day
gargle with saline water
maintain good oral hygiene
hope this will help
thanks
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Dentist Dr. Tarush Thakur's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing,

Yes, you have damaged your gums by improper flossing. When gums are irritated, they show their anger by swelling and bleeding. This might also be painful. Usually removal of the cause is sufficient to make them normal.

If the pain is more, you can have a diclofenac prescribed by your dentist. It will relieve the pain until the gums get normal. Do not irritate the place more. Abstain from using a floss or tooth brush at that area. Use warm saline gargles and a mouthwash 2-3 times a day. If symptoms still persist or there is pus seen, you have to visit a dentist for the antibiotic prescription.

Stay healthy,
Thank you.
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Dentist Dr. Qazi Ammara's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for asking the query,

After reading your history i suppose that you might have developed a trauma due to improper flossing.
Proper flossing removes plague and food particles in places where toothbrush cannot reach easily holding your floss tautly between your thumb and index finger slide it gently up and down between your teeth, gently curve the floss around base of each tooth making sure you dont go beneath the gumline.

I would suggest you avoid flossing in the area for 3-5 days.
Apply Dologel oral ointment topically over the wound.
Maintain a good oral hygiene use lukewarm saline and antiseptic mouthwash rinses.

Hope this helps out.

Regards....
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Dentist Dr. Benley George's  Response
Hello,
First of all you should floss your teeth as instructed by your dentist. You can use warm saline gargle 3-4 times a day for 5 days. Massage your gums using your finger after brushing. This would help in subsiding the infection. Even then if it is persistent consult your dentist and get a scaling of teeth done.

Regards
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Dentist Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Your interdental gingiva has teared due to flossing.

To prevent infection,take amoxycillin along with analgesics.

Take vitamin becosules,c,supplements.

Drink plenty of water as well as fluids.

Take nutritious diet including fruits and vegetables.

Hope this helps.
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Dentist Dr. Yogesh Tripathi's  Response
hello
damage to gingiva while flossing is a common occurance
this happens when you apply extura pressure while flossing
the common sensation is a feeling of a gap between the two teeth because of slight recling of interdental gingiva and later sweeling can also be seen
what i would suggest is that you pay a visit to sdentist to rule out infection
in the mean while you can do following
1.lukewarm saline rinse 4-6 times daily
2.gum astringent like oracep, take a drop of astringent on the index finger and gently massage on the affected area after every rinse
3.also you should take combiflame twice daily for 2-3 days to reduce the inflammation
hope this helps
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Dentist Dr. Juhi Soni's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM forum,
As this swelling ,pain and bleeding is due to trauma caused while flossing so avoid flossing in that area for some days and vigorous brushing too.
Massage the area with Dentakind L gel 2-3 times a day.
Use antiseptic mouthwash twice daily.
Do warm saline rinses after meals.
Wishing you a cure soon.
Take care
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Dentist, Periodontics Dr. Palvi 's  Response
hi...
thanks for the query..
you please visit your dentist and get the area cleaned and irrigated properly...
do warm saline rinses 6-7 times a day...
also have anti inflammatory drug...
and massage the area using hexi gel...
symptoms will subside and it will be back to normal in 2-3 days...
take care...
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Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement Dr. Saurabh Gupta's  Response
Hi,
To prevent bleeding gums, make sure you practice regular oral hygiene. you do not brush or floss too vigorously or with too much pressure. Gums that are prone to bleed need time to get strong again, and vigorous brushing can cause the gums to continue to bleed. Avoid hard foods especially with sharp edges such as tortilla chips. massage your gums using your finger. Do warm saline rinses.
While treating bleeding gums, speak to your dentist so the onset of any gum disease can be eradicated.
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Damaged Gingiva With Floss. Had Irritation, Gum Swelled, Aching, Bleeding. Used Rinse Solution. How To Cure?

Hello, Thanks for posting your query here. It is good to know that you floss your teeth regularly. Flossing done in a correct way helps in maintaining good oral health. But wrong or improper method of flossing may damage or hurt the gums. I presumed you lodged the floss forcefully inside the tight contacts of your teeth which in turn lead to hurting your gums. Floss should be used in sawing motion and never lodged forcefully. The floss would have even torn and residual may have been left in the contacts of your teeth.I would advise you to not irritate the area further by rubbing or brushing. A visit to a dentist will help.Meanwhile just do lukewarm saline rinses. Take care Dr.Sushma Rajesh