Hi Meera,

Okay, good to know. It is hard for me to remember everyone's case here unless I refer back to the original posts. So yes, In now recall tooth #5 was decayed, infected and root canaled... then extracted. Tooth #4 on the mesial (interproximal) side, did your dentist do any fillings on that area since that xray was taken? If not then you may have 2 areas of decay or it could be what is called burnout. But I think it would be wise for your dentist to recheck that tooth for decay.

Regarding the left side, tooth #14 the first upper molar appears to have a piece of calculus or tartar on the mesial up near the crest of the bone. It is hard to confirm that on this xray as it could also be a shadow or reflection off of the root. Teeth #12 and 13 both have restorations but the margins look good on this xray. There is some bone loss (not a lot) and some root exposure underneath the gum. So the initial contact between the fillings when you bring the floss up in between the teeth could be tight and then when you bring the floss up further you are rubbing against the exposed root surface. Also, that area where you feel the floss is getting stuck or hung up could be a slight overhang on the filling, although it is not evident on this xray. Ask your dentist to floss in there and let him see what you are talking about.

In the meantime, try the tape floss. String floss can be a bit harsh on the gum tissue in areas that are tight. The tape slides easier and is not as abrasive on the root surface as the string.