Flossing your teeth is an essential part of maintaining a healthy smile, but it can pose difficulties for some people. If you try to floss on a regular basis but come away with shredded floss when you slide it between your teeth, don't give up on flossing. Try reading this guide to find out what's shredding your floss and how to resolve the problem.

Bad Floss

Floss comes in many varieties, colors, and flavors, but the reality is, not all floss varieties available on the market are equal. Some types of floss are cheaply made or don't provide any way of helping the floss to glide between your teeth, like waxed flosses do.

If this is happening to you and you've only tried one kind of floss, try switching to another and see if it helps. Waxed floss varieties and flatter varieties of floss may be a good pick for you. You can also try monofilament floss, which unlike traditional nylon floss, typically does not shred at all.

Jagged Tooth

If changing your floss doesn't stop the problem, there may be an issue with your teeth. Keep an eye on when it happens and make a note of the teeth you were between. If you discover that there's a pattern of when the floss shreds, there could be an issue with your teeth.

There are two main reasons teeth shred floss: your tooth is jagged due to long-term abrasion, cavities, or damage, or your tooth may have too much tartar that's giving it a jagged edge. In either case, you may experience additional problems like a sense of tightness when trying to glide the floss, or your floss may simply get stuck between your teeth.

This problem can typically only be resolved by a dentist. Thankfully, it should be an easy procedure. If you have tartar, the problem can easily be cleared away with a dental cleaning and your problems will be over. If your tooth is jagged, your dentist can smooth out the edge of your tooth or use a filling to even it out.

Excessive Pressure

Finally, the way that you floss may also be a problem. While you should hold the floss tautly and carefully slide it over the edges of your teeth and gums, holding it too tightly and pulling hard while flossing can damage your floss. It's also not great for your teeth and can irritate your gums and make them bleed, so try and go easy on yourself.

These tips will likely resolve your flossing problem, so start following them today. If you still have problems, consult with your local dentist like Centre Family Dentistry to find out if you have an underlying condition that's causing this issue.