Treating an ingrown toenail can be a real pain in the you-know-what, especially when you’re trying to manage the situation on your own. But before you reach for the sharpest pair of tweezers or nail clippers you can find—and we’re not saying don’t do that—try this simple trick: dental floss.
The idea is pretty simple: when you cut your nails, get a bit of floss underneath them so that they don’t grow back into your skin. It’s a great way to avoid infection and other complications that might arise from trying to remove an ingrown nail yourself!
Read on to learn more about How To Treat Ingrown Toenail With Dental Floss, How To Remove An Ingrown Toenail Yourself and How To Treat An Infected Ingrown Toenail
How To Treat Ingrown Toenail With Dental Floss
Your health care provider can diagnose an ingrown toenail based on your symptoms and a physical examination of the nail and the surrounding skin.
Ingrown toenail is a common foot problem. It occurs when the corner of the nail grows into the skin, causing pain and inflammation on top of the toe. Ingrown toenail is generally caused by improperly trimmed nails or shoes that are too tight.
Dental floss is an effective treatment for ingrown toenails. Here’s how it works:
Wet your toe with warm water before you begin. This will soften up your skin, making it easier for you to remove the ingrown portion of your nail.
Slide the floss under the skin surrounding your nail so that it covers part of your toe as well as some of your nail bed. The floss should be placed at least one-third into the crevice where it meets your skin.
Move the floss back and forth gently in order to cut away at any remaining ingrown portion of your nail, pulling slightly outward as you do so. Continue this motion until you’ve removed all possible bits of ingrown nail from underneath your skin
A toenail that has grown into the flesh is called an ingrown toenail. This can cause pain and discomfort. The best way to treat an ingrown toenail is by using dental floss.
Step 1: Cut off a piece of dental floss about 10 inches long, and then cut it in half so you have two pieces of floss about 5 inches long each.
Step 2: Hold one piece of floss between your thumb and forefinger, with the rest of the floss hanging down.
Step 3: Fold one end of the floss over on itself so that it forms a loop. Repeat this process with the other end of the floss so that you have two loops of equal size.
Step 4: Place one loop over your nail and slide it down until it covers most of your nail bed but not as far as your cuticle line or healthy skin around your nail. Leave about 1/2 inch of space between where you started placing the loop and where you ended up placing it on your nail bed.
Ingrown toenails are a common foot condition in which the nail grows into the skin. It’s not just annoying; it can be painful and difficult to treat.
If you have an ingrown toenail, the first step is to stop the bleeding. You can do this by soaking your foot in warm water for 10 minutes. This will help to soften tissue around the nail bed so that you can pull out any visible pieces of nail that are causing bleeding. If there’s still some bleeding after 10 minutes of soaking, press on a clean cloth or cotton ball on top of the affected area until it stops bleeding.
Next, you need something sharp enough to cut through your nail—but not too sharp or you could cause more damage than good! Dental floss is perfect for this purpose because it cuts easily but isn’t too sharp or rough on your skin.
When treating an ingrown toenail with dental floss, first tie one end of the floss around a piece of string or yarn so that you have something extra strong and durable to pull against when cutting through your nail (this will make it easier than using your hands alone). Then wrap the other end around one of your fingers several times
Have you ever had a nail hang over the edge of your toe? It’s uncomfortable and can be painful.
If you are suffering from an ingrown toenail, there are several ways to treat it. One method that is not widely known is using dental floss to treat the problem.
Dental floss is made of nylon, which is very strong and flexible. When used with care, it can be used to gently remove the ingrown part of the nail so that it can grow out normally.
To use this method, cut a piece of floss about six inches long and pull it through one end of your finger until both ends appear on opposite sides of your finger. Slide one end through the other (this keeps them from pulling out), then pull gently on both ends while holding onto your nail with your free hand. This should cause the ingrown part to pop up enough for you to grab it safely and pull it out completely with tweezers or forceps
In some cases, teeth can cause an ingrown toenail if they are not properly aligned. A dentist can offer advice on the best way to treat ingrown nails and will be able to treat any problems with the teeth that may be causing them.
The most common causes of ingrown toenails are wearing shoes that don’t fit well or shoes that are too tight. To avoid this problem, make sure your shoes are wide enough and leave enough room for your toes to move around comfortably inside them.
The other common cause of ingrown toenails is wearing shoes without socks or stockings. This can cause your skin to rub against the shoe and lead to infection if left untreated for a long period of time. Make sure you always wear socks and stockings when wearing footwear in order to prevent this from happening again.
How To Remove An Ingrown Toenail Yourself
An ingrown toenail is annoying and often painful. Constant walking rubs the toes against socks and shoes, causing further irritation to the ingrown toenail. If left untreated, an ingrown toenail can become infected and cause even more discomfort.
Medically known as Onychocryptosis, an ingrown toenail can occur to anyone, at any age, although it seems to be slightly more common in males than in females. It’s one of the most common problems a person can experience with their toes.
If an ingrown toenail is causing you grievances, it’s time to learn the best way to remove it and be comfortable again.
Natural Ingrown Toenail Treatment Remedies
There are several natural remedies to treat an ingrown toenail.
Many people prefer to try these options before purchasing OTC medications or scheduling an appointment with the doctor.
If you’d like to try a natural, at-home ingrown toenail solution, the following are among the top solutions used:
Foot Wash
Soak the affected foot in warm, soapy water to keep bacteria at bay. Add Epsom salt to the water to soften the skin. Soak the foot three or four times daily.
Essential Oils
Rubbing essential oils on the ingrown toenail is an effective way to soften and soothe the skin, minimize the pain, and hopefully draw the toenail out of the skin.
Dental Floss
Use dental floss under an ingrown toenail to help shift the nail into the correct growth direction. Ingrown toenails occur when the nail grows downward into the skin. Simply lift the edge of the nail containing the ingrown toenail and place the dental floss between it.
Castile Soap Wash
If you’re unable to soak your foot three or four times per day, use castile soap once per day instead. Use the soap with water to cleanse the nail bed using a soft washcloth.
Cutting an Ingrown Toenail
If you prefer to cut the ingrown toenail, it is best that you have someone help you or schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Cutting the ingrown toenail incorrectly could make the issue worse and increase pain.
If you choose to remove the toenail yourself, follow these steps for accuracy:
- Soak your foot in Epsom salt or Castile soap for 30 minutes to soften the toenail. This will reduce the pain and swelling after removal.
- Wash your hands. It is imperative that your hands are clean before you start removing an ingrown toenail.
- Push the skin back from the nail border. This can be painful! Do not try to force the skin back further than it will go.
- Cut the toenail straight across, starting at the toenail edges. Do not cut the toenail from the middle.
- Place a piece of cotton between the nail and the skin to prevent it from growing back into the skin. Slightly raise the edge of the problematic toenail to make the insertion.
- Apply a medicated ingrown toenail ointment to the affected area. Numerous ingrown toenail ointments are sold at pharmacies and online.
- Apply a bandage to the infected toenail. Do not touch the area. The toenail area will likely be painful and swollen.
- Change the cotton in the toenail twice per day to keep it clean and free of bacteria and germs.
Treating Your Ingrown Toenail
Carefully follow the instructions above if there is an ingrown toenail causing you grief. In a matter of a few short weeks, the issue should be resolved! If your ingrown toenail is advanced, removing it yourself may not be impossible. Instead, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor who may recommend a surgical treatment to remove the ingrown toenail.
There are a few surgical options, including the Matrixectomy, Wedge Resection, and the Vandenbos Procedure. The doctor will determine which option is most suitable for your ingrown toenail after evaluating the specific circumstances of your case.
Infected ingrown toenail
How To Treat An Infected Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenail infections can often be treated at home if you’re able to get under the part of the nail that’s digging into your skin.
Don’t yank or pull on your nail. You may be able to lift the skin gently with a piece of dental floss, but don’t force it, and make sure your hands are clean when you try.
- Soak your foot in warm water and Epsom salt or coarse salt to soften the area. This will help the pus to drain out and reduce pain.
- Apply antibiotic or antifungal lotion directly to the nail and to the skin under and around the nail.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication to help reduce symptoms, such as discomfort and swelling.
If your infection doesn’t begin to dissipate within a few days, see a doctor. They may be better able to lift and get under the nail, making treatment with topical antibiotics easier.
Treatments your doctor may try include:
- packing antibiotic-soaked gauze under the nail to eliminate the infection and help the nail to grow out regularly
- trimming or cutting off the part of your nail that’s ingrown
- surgery in the case of a serious or recurring problem
If a bone infection is suspected, your doctor may do a blood test to see how deep the infection goes. Other tests include:
- X-ray
- MRI
- bone scan
- bone biopsy if your doctor suspects osteomyelitis, a rare complication
When to see a doctor
If you’re having trouble walking, or are in pain, see a doctor if your toenail has pierced the skin, and you can’t lift it or cut it away. Any infection that doesn’t get better with at-home treatment should also be seen by a doctor.
If you have diabetes, have a doctor check your feet regularly. Due to nerve damage, you may not feel the discomfort associated with an ingrown toenail, delaying treatment.