This Dental Hygienist Went Viral For Sharing The Surprising Reason You Need To Smell Your Floss

Keeping up with all your recommended dental care can be pretty tricky. Juggling busy schedules, jumping through insurance hoops, and even dental anxiety can hold us back from spending time in the dentist's office. So it's not too surprising that this 24-year-old dental hygienist has been going viral for sharing a (kinda gross) tip that can help clue you in to a little-known sign of gum disease.

Kyrsten Sprouse (@kyrsten.sprouse) is a dental hygienist in Oregon who's been working in the dental field for three years. On her TikTok, she recently shared a video talking about a certain telltale smell she's noticed while flossing her patients, and it quickly went viral, racking up nearly 2 million views.

In the clip, she says, "It's so crazy when I've been cleaning people's teeth for a whole hour, and I don't smell periodontal disease, really, until the end, when I'm checking my work and I'm flossing and I can smell it really bad, even through my mask, my face shield, everything." She's careful to note in her caption that she's sharing this info to educate her audience, not to make people feel bad about themselves, writing, "I'm so used to it and not judging the patient AT ALL."

Periodontal disease (aka gum disease) occurs when plaque isn't cleaned off the teeth by brushing or flossing. Bacteria live in the plaque build-up, and without proper dental hygiene, they can move into the gums, creating "pockets" and causing inflammation. Some symptoms of gum disease can include bleeding or swollen gums, the gumline receding away from the teeth, sensitivity, and changes in your bite alignment. And you should know that gum disease doesn't just affect your mouth; it has also been linked to heart conditions, diabetes, stroke, dementia, and even complications in pregnancy.

There are two main types of periodontal disease. You've probably heard of gingivitis before — this is a milder and reversible form of gum disease. Regular dental cleanings and good home care can reverse the course of gingivitis. Then there's periodontitis. This is a more serious form of gum disease that can't be fully reversed. However, proper treatment can slow down the progression of periodontitis.

In her video, Kyrsten goes on to share a tip she often shares with patients who are interested in stepping up their dental hygiene. "I always tell my patients, like, if you want to be grossed out, but you want to feel encouraged to floss: when you're home all alone, no one else is around, floss your teeth and then smell the floss."

She continues, saying, "A lot of people get discouraged very easily in the dental chair. So I never, like, bring up the smell or anything like that, unless they mention it. But I do mention, you know that when you begin flossing, and you haven't had that habit, you're gonna have a lot of bleeding. Might smell a little funky, but once you have flossed regularly for a week or two, the bleeding will significantly, significantly reduce."

In the comments, some shared that they're all too familiar with the periodontal funk:

And others admitted to indulging in this gross habit for no particular reason at all:

Some people pointed out other things your dentist can tell about you just from smelling your breath:

And Kyrsten offered words of encouragement for commenters who joined the chat to talk about dental anxiety:

But mostly, people wanted to know, what exactly does periodontal disease smell like? Kyrsten told BuzzFeed, "It is a really hard smell to describe, but once you smell it, you will recognize it again easily. I would say that it smells like bacteria. Some people described it in the comments, but it is subjective, so some descriptive terms may resonate with some and not others." Dental professionals have dubbed the smell "perio breath."

And she said that if you notice bleeding while brushing or flossing, that's a really common sign of gum disease and your sign to schedule a dentist appointment. "It is important to see your dental hygienist and dentist so they can review your x-rays, probing depths, and visualize the state of your gums. This allows them to properly diagnose and give oral home care instruction that is made specifically for you!!!"

Kyrsten also creates floss reviews on her TikTok. Since there are so many kinds of floss on the market these days, I had to pick her brain about her current favorite brands. "I am still on a journey of finding more flosses, but right now I loooove Burst Expanding Floss. It is black and shows you all the gunk that you’re getting out from between your teeth (kind of gross, but also weirdly satisfying). I also love Cocofloss, Dr.Tung’s, and Reach Pop Floss."

By the way, if you happen to prefer using a waterflosser, Kyrsten shared her thoughts on those helpful home care tools. "I love waterflossers, specifically the brands Waterpik, Sonicare, and Burst. Waterflossers are best used with floss; they’re the perfect duo! The bristles of a toothbrush and floss only get 2-3 millimeters under the gum line, which is perfect for a 'healthy' patient because that’s how deep their pockets are, but for anyone with deeper pockets than that, they aren’t reaching the base of the sulcus [space between the tooth and gums] at home. This is when I specifically recommend the Waterpik because it can get 6mm below the gum line!"

She also shared what she would say to a potential patient who hasn't been to the dentist in a long time and is feeling anxious or embarrassed. "Firstly, I am proud of you for going in again or for the first time. My advice would be to shop around for dental offices, look at their reviews, and see if their office suits YOU. Secondly, if you have dental anxiety and you’re comfortable discussing that with others, tell the office or dental hygienist. There are things we can do during the appointment to try and make you more comfortable or even work together to come up with a treatment plan! I talk with a lot of other dental hygienists on my page, and we just want the best for you. We want you to walk away from your appointment more knowledgeable and confident."

Finally, Kyrsten shared a reminder that social media advice can't compare to personalized recommendations at your dental office. "Your usual providers have reviewed your medical and dental history, so they know of any genetic predisposition, conditions, and modifying factors that are specific to you; they have seen your x-rays, and they have physically been in your mouth! If you are interested in something you see on the internet, ask your dental hygienist or dentist if that would be a good option for you."