Any dentists about and can offer some advice? A bit gross, sorry.

[Needatoothfairy]

I can’t decide whether I’m more worried or embarrassed at the moment, but I’m hopeful there are some dentists about who can offer some advice. I hope this is the right place to post, I couldn’t find a dental topic!

I’ve had mild gum disease before in the past, and I noticed last night that my gums were a bit sore so I thought I’d better do some flossing. I admit that I don’t floss anywhere near as often as I should, but I do generally have quite good teeth and I give them a good brush two or three times a day, don’t smoke etc. I’m in my late(ish) twenties and I’ve not needed to have any fillings yet. I also had a check up less than 6 months ago so it’s not like I’ve not been for years and years and I actually need loads of fillings! But when I flossed around my back teeth yesterday (especially around one particular tooth) there was a bad smell on the floss. It wasn’t strong enough to smell it in the air, but it was quite unpleasant. I did it again this morning and it was much better, but it’s worried me.

Google tells me this is probably gum disease, is there anything I can be doing at home to try and improve this? I’ve used Corsodyl in the past, but my dentist told me that it stained my teeth? I’m also really worried that I’ve got revolting breath and everyone has been too polite to tell me. Things can’t have got that bad since my check up 4 months ago, can they?

I will be making sure to floss twice a day now obviously, but any additional advice or suggestions of ‘products’ would be greatly appreciated.

If you had a check up 4 months ago and there wasn't anything your dentist flagged it's not likely to be periodontal disease.
The horrible smell is stagnant plaque. If we don't clean between our teeth with floss or interdental brushes, we don't clean about 10% of our teeth.
If you touch an area that hasn't been cleaned regularly the gum will be tender as plaque irritates and it will stink.
Keep flossing every day your gums will really improve and when your dentist reopens and you have a check up get them to double check that spot just to ensure it's all healed.

If you dont floss every day then of course theres going to be a bad smell on your floss. Its just plaque builld up, plaque is bacteria so of course it will smell.

You dont need any special products, you dont need corsodyl you just need to floss.

Gum disease is inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria (plaque). Plaque starts forming as soon as you remove it basically, and it needs to be there for 24hrs to cause inflammation. Because plaque is a biolfilm it requires mechanical removal i.e. flossing.

Basically to prevent gum disease you need to mechanically remove the plaque daily, by flossing and of course brushing.

To be honest I’ve never noticed a smell on the floss before which is what worried me. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been there though!

Will keep flossing every day, hold off with the Corsodyl for now and see how much of an improvement that makes. Thanks for the advice!