Everyone knows the importance of flossing.  Dentists are continually recommending to all patients to improve their flossing techniques.  But for those with sensitive gums this can be daunting.  Even with recent evidence that good flossing can prevent even problems outside the dental hygiene arena it can be daunting to floss if your gums are sensitive. The key to being able to floss even with sensitive gums may be to first understand what sensitive gums are caused by and what proper flossing technique is. Sensitive gums are usually caused by gingivitis.  This is known as inflammation of the gums.  There are more advanced conditions that are also related to this.  Some of these can be periodontitis, trauma to the gums or a manifestation of an allergy.  There are several other conditions that can contribute to sensitive gums as well.  Any diagnosis should only be made after a through examination by a dentist.  After this a treatment plan can be recommended.

The next step in knowing what to do about flossing with sensitive gums is to be sure and know the proper flossing method.  Flossing removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum line.  This is an extremely important part of the tooth-cleaning process because it removes bacteria right from the site where periodontal disease often starts.  If you find flossing difficult or awkward under normal circumstances ask your dental hygienist about the variety of dental floss holders that are available.  Then for proper flossing follow the next steps-

1.    Wind 18" of floss around the middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1"- 2" length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth. 
2.    Keep a 1" - 2" length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth. 
3.    Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zigzag motion. Do not snap floss between your teeth. Contour floss around the side of the tooth. 
4.    Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.

Many patients are wondering how often they should floss, is flossing really necessary and what teeth should be flossed?  Many dentist respond with the cliché of "You should only floss the teeth you want to keep!" The actual recommendation is that flossing should be done at least once a day.  Next to brushing the most important thing you can do to ensure good oral health is flossing.  So they question remains: How do you floss if you have sensitive gums.  Utilizing the next five tips should help with that situation.

1.    If flossing is extremely painful a water pik can be used in place of flossing for a short time.  A dental hygienist can help you form a plan of action in maintaining a good oral hygiene plan.
2.    Use a floss holder.  By using a floss holder the patient has more control of the floss and is less likely to cause the floss to snap against the gums.  This will not only help eliminate more pain and sensitivity to the gums but also help prevent injuries that could cause further pain.
3.    Use glide or coated floss.  By using floss that is coated with wax or a glide type floss it becomes much easier to floss again reducing the chance of hurting or injuring sensitive gums.
4.    Use toothpaste especially formulated for sensitive teeth.  While this may not make sense in terms of flossing the chemicals in the toothpaste can help relieve sensitivity in the gums as well as teeth thereby reducing the chances of pain during flossing.
5.    Keep at the flossing!  This is the most important tip of all.  Sensitive gums over time will become less sensitive to flossing.  While this may be difficult at first by being diligent with flossing the patient can expect less discomfort with sensitive gums as time goes by.  And most importantly enjoy better oral health!

Lining the aisles of almost every grocery and discount store today are countless products that contribute to good oral health.  Toothbrushes of every variety, toothpastes in a multitude of flavors and mouthwash of every kind stand ready to help the consumer in maintaining healthy dental hygiene.   Just the choices of dental floss can be mind boggling with waxed or non-waxed being the first of many choices for the consumer to make.  Along with this multitude of products stands a less marketed, quieter sort of product-the over the counter tooth desensitizers.  But for the consumer suffering from mouth pain there is not such a welcome sight as seeing the choices of tooth desensitizer available today. 

Tooth desensitizers main function is by definition to render insensitive or less sensitive a tooth or nerve within the mouth.  This is done by using a non-prescription pain killer.  Most tooth desensitizers contain some percentage of Benzocaine or a derivative of it.  Because the tooth desensitizers are sold in grocery or drug stores they can only contain a non prescription amount of any painkiller as determined by the Food and Drug Administration. Any stronger pain medication that is needed must be prescribed by a licensed dentist or physician if the pain is indicated by dental injury. 

Over the counter tooth desensitizers are used for a variety of reasons.  Many people suffer from chronic cankers or mouth sores.  If this problem is chronic the patient needs to have the underlying reason diagnosed through an examination.  The dentist can then work with the patient to provide treatment for this problem.  But for the occasional flare up the over the counter tooth desensitizer can provide immediate relief until further treatment can be sought.  Another reason that over the counter tooth desensitizers are used is to treat tooth or gum sensitivity itself.  While many people complain of tooth sensitivity after dental procedures (this includes laser teeth whitening) most tooth sensitivity is unexplainable. Illness, hormones, stress, changes in temperature can all contribute to tooth sensitivity.  Yet many dentists are unable to explain why these factors affect some people but not others.  But to treat this pain on an ongoing basis many people turn to over the counter tooth desensitizers.  They can provide immediate relief and have many advantages.  Here are just a few-

1.    One of the major advantages to this kind of product is the price.  Most over the counter tooth desensitizers can be purchased for under $10.  When compared with the price of a dental visit and possible cost of a prescription this is quite a bargain.
2.    The portability of this type of product is very much an advantage.  Many times this type of pain needs to be treated repeatedly.  Most over the counter tooth desensitizers are small tubes or bottles that can fit easily into a purse or pocket and be taken just about anywhere.
3.    The ease of use for over the counter tooth desensitizers is quite high.  Most products are in ointment form.  The product can be applied to a swab or even a clean fingertip and applied to the affected area.  Most types of this product can be used about every 6 hours ensuring continuous relief from discomfort or irritation. 
4.    Most users of this product indicate instant relief from the pain or discomfort they are feeling.  Over the counter teeth desensitizers seem to be highly effective.
5.    There are few side effects to over the counter tooth desensitizers.  Most possible side effects are directly related to the miss use of over use of this product.  Generally most users report no problems with using this type of product.

After a filling or root canal your tooth many ache some, have a dull pain, or be sensitive. While this is normal, there are some things you can do to avoid tooth sensitivity after a filling or root canal. The following is a list of 5:

1. Don't chew on that side: obviously you will want to eventually start chewing on the side of your mouth that you had work done, but for a couple of days it is best to simply leave it alone. Biting and chewing may cause sensitivity because the nerves around the tooth have been inflamed because of the conditions that existed before treatment was started and are still inflamed due to the manipulation of the tooth during treatment. So, time is the best medicine to allow them to go down and return to normal.

2. Rinse with warm salt-water: for the next two days will help get rid of some pain and sensitivity. Warm salt water can also kill any remaining bacteria around the tooth, which leads to better recovery.

3. Ice it. If you hurt your ankle you will likely ice it, so it does not swell, and you should do the same for your mouth. So, you might be thinking, "How does icing it help with sensitivity?" the answer is simply that by minimizing the swelling you give your tooth a chance to heal better, and that will keep it from being sensitive as long. Apply the ice pack every hour for about ten minutes during the first 4-6 hours after work is done. (You can use frozen vegetables like peas if you do not have an icepack, it is just as effective.) Along with the ice, you should probably take something for pain-relief within one hour of leaving the dental office. The reason for this time frame is to get the medication into your blood system before the anesthesia that was administered during the work begins to subside. It lessens your awareness of the sensitivity, which is a good thing because after a tooth is worked on, the area around it is generally very sensitive for a few days after. (do not take Asprin or asprin containing medicines, go for ibuprofen or Advil.)

4. Sleep with your head in an elevated position for the first few nights.  This will keep blood flow and circulation going well and this in turn leads to faster healing. With this in mind, you will want to greater ensure that your body heals as quickly as possible by avoiding drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, as well as strenuous exercise in the first few days of recovery. These can thin your blood and cause your mouth to bleed more, and it can slow healing. So, take it easy and your mouth will be far less sensitive.

5. Eat a soft diet for at least two days: While you do not want to cripple yourself, or make yourself a slave to your dental work, you do want to give your teeth the best chance possible for speedy recovery. One way to do this is to not put stress on them, so eat soft foods, and remember not to chew on the treated side. It is also important to note you're your nerve endings may have been slightly exposed and can be extremely temperature sensitive for a few days, so it is best to avoid very hot or cold foods during the healing process. Also, your dentist should caution you to avoid crunchy or hard foods which could cause the tooth without a crown to fracture, which would lead to much greater levels of sensitivity.