You likely find the dentist's flossing painful because you don't floss. It is not painful if you floss regularly (even just once a week) because it gets your gu

You likely find the dentist's flossing painful because you don't floss. It is not painful if you floss regularly (even just once a week) because it gets your gums used to the sensation and clears out the gunk that makes gums sore and sensitive. If your gums are in good condition (not inflamed from plaque), the floss will slide down between the tooth and the gum, rather than hit the gum directly. I find toothpicks painful because they are wider and shaped like a wedge, and so they tend to push some food in deeper (like the thin, hard fragments that come from eating popcorn). Instead I use very thin, tape-like floss, which is minimally invasive and does not get stuck. It functions more like a scoop, slipping neatly under trapped food so it can be lifted out. I also do flossing as an idle activity. I keep floss in the shower and at my desk. I almost never floss when I brush my teeth (can't be bothered) and only floss while I'm occupied with something else, like watching a show or waiting for hair conditioner to soak in.