While flossing is recommended daily for most people, some mouths are not adept for floss. If you have large pockets in your gums, then floss could actually push food particles and bacteria down into the gums as opposed to removing the particles from your teeth.

Without the ability to floss, you still need to find ways to clear out plaque, food, and bacteria from your mouth. Follow this guide to learn about the alternatives and ways to maintain a healthy smile even if you have larger gum pockets.

1. Interdental Brushes

Clean deep inside your teeth with interdental brushes. The brushes are thin and small pieces with bristles that can access all the areas between your teeth and gums. Instead of pushing down particles, interdental brushes spin in a circular motion so the brush can lift up particles and keep the area between gums clean and protected.

Interdental brushes come in multiple sizes, including thick and thin brush heads. A dentist can help you select the proper size to match the gaps between teeth and the pockets in your gum. If you use a brush that is too thin, you will not clean out the areas well enough. If you use a brush that is too thick, you could damage gums.

A dentist can also help you find the ideal size so you can purchase your own brushes and use one on a daily basis. The brush will become a part of your normal dental hygiene, used before you brush your teeth.

2. Water Flossers

Since the string of dental floss could push particles down into your gums, you can rely on direct water streams to flush everything out. A water flosser provides an ideal way to clean deep within the gums without the need to use floss between each tooth.

Water flossers feature powerful streams of water that flow through the teeth and can lead to healthy smiles. The stream of water also massages the gums, leading to better blood flow through the gums, which will keep your gums healthy.

Water flossers have different settings so you can change the speed of the water to effectively clean your mouth and get deep inside the gums when needed.

3. Mouth Picks

One of the closest things to the flossing experience is a mouth pick. Either a hard plastic pick or a soft pick head will provide ways to clean your mouth and push out particles and plaque from between your teeth. Picks offer an ideal flossing alternative because the picks can go straight between the teeth and push upwards to remove bacteria.

If your gums are prone to bleeding, you may need to choose soft picks so you do not damage your gums further or risk infection. Some dentists may provide free samples for you to try different picks. Trying out various styles will help you find the best pick and routine for your gums.

4. Extra Cleaning Appointments

In some cases, the deep pockets of your gums may trap and hold bacteria no matter what methods you use. The best way to keep the gums clean is through extra cleaning appointments with a dentist. Adding an extra appointment will keep your gums clean as dentists use professional tools and look inside your gums.

Spread the cleaning appointments evenly throughout the year. For example, if you typically get a cleaning every six months, you may change the pace to every four months to ensure you get three appointments a year. The extra cleaning will make a big difference, and you can pair the appointment with other cleaning options in between.

Contact us to make an appointment at Accent Dental. We will help you treat your gum pockets and keep your smile protected for years to come.