What happens if you can't get floss between your teeth?

Because a toothbrush alone won’t get your mouth clean! You have food and plaque between your teeth and under your gums – no toothbrush can reach those locations. If you leave all that food and plaque there you will develop bad breath, gum inflammation, and cavities. 

Do you have tight teeth?

Some of us have closely spaced teeth with super tight contacts! This might be the natural alignment of your teeth or it might be something that developed after treatment such as orthodontics or a new restoration (filling, crown, etc). Tight contacts can make it difficult to get floss in or out from between your teeth and while you’re fighting with the floss it can be rather uncomfortable.

Things to try if you struggle getting floss between your teeth:

The Right Type of Floss

Not all floss is the same. There are different materials and coatings that can alter how easily floss slides between teeth. So, if one floss just isn’t working for you, try another. Flosses that are softer and less stiff are often easier to wiggle past a contact point, for example. The wax coatings on floss vary by brand and have a different glide ability.

Use floss picks

For some people, a flosser or floss pick might give some added leverage that makes it easier to get the floss down between the teeth. But if you struggle with getting the floss out again, floss picks might not be the best option. A tip for getting floss out is described under “Flossing Technique” below!

Try Interdental brushes

For some areas in your mouth, it might just be easier or more effective to use interdental brushes instead of floss. There are essentially like soft toothpicks with bristles to allow you to clean the area between your teeth. You insert them from the side, avoiding the tight contact area. They come in various sizes so you can find one for even the smallest of spaces. These are especially great for cleaning under permanent orthodontic retainers or bridges!

Dental Tape

This type of floss is usually flatter and thinner and might be worth a short for those with tight contacts!

Flossing technique

Regardless of which floss you’re using, it’s important that you have the correct technique. Be sure to be rub the floss along the side surfaces of both teeth as well as getting the floss under your gums. This way the plaque and bacteria that is adhered to the tooth surface is scraped off by the floss. And here’s a trick for those of you who struggle to get the floss back out after you’ve finally gotten it between your teeth! -The floss doesn’t have to leave the same way it came in - let go of one end of the floss and simply pull it out the side to avoid having to go through the tight contact area again all together.

Looking after tight teeth

Oral hygiene is so important in this situation! Tighter teeth can be more difficult to keep clean which increases risk of cavity and the accumulation of plaque/calculus which leads to gum disease.

Regular dental check ups

Since tight teeth are more susceptible to problems, it’s especially important to go in for regular dental check ups. Your dentist can give you specific advice on how to take care of these areas and recommend products that should work well for you. And if a tight contact point is something that developed after a new dental restoration, it’s important to bring this to your dentist’s attention so that they can fix it. Proper hygiene will increase the life expectancy of the dental work in your mouth.

Dental Hygiene

As already stated, if you have tight interdental contacts, it’s important that your oral hygiene game is spot on. Due to the increased risk of cavities, it is wise to include fluoride in your routine! This can come from your toothpaste and can also be supplemented with a fluoride mouthwash. As always, a healthy diet is important for minimizing cavities risk. This means being aware of the sugar, carbs, and acid you are consuming - and it’s not just how much that matters, but how often. The frequency of intake is super important! Snacking on candy throughout the day or sipping one soda throughout the afternoon is worse than consuming the same amount in a shorter period of time.

Orthodontic treatment

In some situations it may be beneficial to consider orthodontic treatment to fix tight contacts! If it is hard to get floss between your teeth because there is crowding, orthodontics treatment can fix that issue for good. And you don’t necessarily need the old metal braces – clear aligner orthodontics such as Invisalign is perfect for this situation! Talk to your dentist about how improving the alignment of your teeth can improve your oral hygiene.

Summary

Flossing is super important – it will drastically reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease because it removes the plaque and bacteria between your teeth and under your gums. But even with the best intentions, flossing can be difficult! And tight contacts between your teeth can make it even more of a struggle to nail your flossing routine. If you’re struggling to floss properly, talk to your dentist or hygienist about it! They will help show you the proper technique and can recommend the products that will be best to use for your mouth.