Flossing regularly is an important part of overall health for the teeth and gums. Neglecting to floss your teeth can lead to a number of serious dental and gum problems. One of these is cavities. Brushing does not clean in between your teeth. When the plaque and food and sugar in between your teeth are not removed by flossing, they start to eat away at the enamel in your teeth, eventually causing cavities in between the teeth.

Dentists and other experts recommend you floss at least once a day. But for people who have sensitive gums, flossing can be an unpleasant experience. However, not flossing can result in gum diseases, or periodontal diseases, which occurs when people don't brush or floss enough. Some common symptoms of this include sore or bleeding gums, hardened gums, and eventual tooth decay.

If you have sensitive gums, the following tips will help you to floss without pain:
1.    Start to use a desensitizing product, such as toothpaste. There are a number of toothpastes designed specifically for sensitive teeth that can help reduce the amount of sensitivity by decreasing the sensitivity of the dentin, where the root of the pain stems. In order for these toothpastes to be effective, they must be used in place of your regular toothpaste, so at least twice daily. Most patients say it takes about 2 weeks to notice results and a lowered sensitivity.
2.    Practice proper flossing techniques. pull the floss taut and pinch it between your thumbs and index fingers. These fingers will be your guides as you floss. Keep the floss in the center taut, and then slowly and gently work floss between your teeth and down to the gum line. Once you are finished flossing, brush your teeth.
3.    Floss gently! Avoid snapping the floss into your gums. This can cause damage and bleeding to your gums. In addition, do not pull floss back and forth against the gums. This can be painful if your gums are sensitive.
4.    Consider alternatives. For people who find it much too painful to floss, there are flossing alternatives. Water picks are one option and use powerful tiny bursts of water to blast away food particles and other debris in certain areas of your mouth. Dentists use these water picks when preparing a tooth for restoration, or in general cleaning and exams.
5.    Try a rinse. Antibacterial rinses, found either over the counter or by a prescription by your dentist, can also be effective means of getting rid of plaque between the teeth if flossing is too painful.

The best way to deal with sensitive gums is through prevention. If you have sensitive gums that make flossing painful, see your dentist to make sure there are no underlying problems or gum disease. If these go untreated, they can lead to more serious problems. Also, be sure to brush and floss regularly to keep gums and teeth in good condition. Many times, mild sensitivity can be alleviated by using an over the counter desensitizing agent, such as a toothpaste or rinse.