You may encounter certain locations in your mouth where dental floss tends to shred or get caught. This difficulty might be long standing or else a phenomenon which has recently developed. This situation implies that there is some sort of irregularity on the surface of the tooth that not only catches the floss but, since the dental floss really can't slide over the obstacle easily, also keeps you from cleaning the tooth thoroughly. You will need to discuss these problem areas with your dentist and let them suggest a solution. In most cases floss shredding or fraying is due to a prominent, rough, sharp, decayed, or irregular area found either on the tooth's surface or else associated with the tooth's dental restoration (filling, veneer, or crown).
We can give you two pointers to help you temporarily deal with this type of difficulty until that point in time when your dentist can recommend a solution. First, if you notice that the problem is only associated with removing the floss from in between certain teeth then try this technique. Don't pull the dental floss back through the contact point but instead just let go of one end of the floss and pull it out to the side. Possibly this technique does not clean the area between the teeth as thoroughly as if you could pull it back out through the contact point (although in our opinion this point is debatable). We can state however, without any hesitation, that flossing in this manner is infinitely better than not flossing the troublesome region at all.
The second suggestion we have is related to the fact that different types of dental flosses have differing potential to catch or shred. Waxed dental floss, as opposed to unwaxed floss, is typically less likely to snare or fray on obstacles. You can even buy dental floss that is made from teflon. Teflon dental floss typically will not shred, and if it does become caught it will usually break and come free rather than getting stuck between your teeth. One brand of teflon dental floss is Glide.
As we mentioned previously, a sharp edge or rough surface associated with a dental crown or filling may be the reason why your dental floss breaks, shreds, or becomes stuck. You'll have to consult with your dentist both for a diagnosis and a remedy.
As any dentist will tell you, ideally every dental restoration should be readily and easily flossed. Of course this is often easier said than done. However, as a dental patient you need to understand that any location which is not cleanable is at risk for the formation of tooth decay or gum disease and therefore any region which cannot be flossed should be evaluated by your dentist.
Upon inspection your dentist may find that you have a flawed or deteriorated dental restoration that should be replaced. In other cases your dentist may feel that your crown or filling is serviceable but you need special instructions regarding how it should be cleansed, either in terms of manipulating the floss in a special way or using a particular type of dental floss.
Other types of tooth surface irregularities can cause dental floss to shred or get stuck. In some cases tartar (dental calculus) may have formed on the tooth's surface and is an impediment to flossing. Dental tartar typically cannot be brushed or flossed off and instead must be scraped off during a dental cleaning at your dentist's office. The formation of tooth decay can create an irregularity in a tooth's surface on which dental floss can shred, break or become stuck.
As mentioned previously, any location that cannot be flossed should be evaluated by your dentist and a recommendation for a remedy made. The presence of dental tartar can compromise the health of a person's gums and the bone that surrounds their teeth, sometimes significantly. And in those cases where a cavity has formed clearly the situation should be remedied promptly.
It is fairly common that a dental patient will tell their dentist that they don't floss because it "cuts their gums and makes them bleed." This belief is typically founded on a profound lack of understanding on the part of the dental patient about what occurs with the gum tissue between their teeth when they either aren't flossing, aren't flossing regularly, or aren't flossing with an effective technique. Instead of being a reason not to floss, the presence of bleeding from gums is typically the precise reason why a person should be flossing. Our information about gum inflammation explains why.
First published: March, 2006 (Updated 2/3/09)
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