went to my dds for a cleaning the other and was told that I've been flossing and putting toothpicks too far into my gums and now I have a ridge under the gum line around one particular toothe. the gum has receeded there and I have gone into the peri---- something ligament.
 
Anybody ever had that problem?  DDS says I'm ok for now but I may want to see a peridontist to get grafts put in to build up the gum around that toothe.

I am assuming the ridge under the gum that you are referring to is on the tooth; like a divot in the tooth you can catch your nail in?  Your DDS is mistaken (I may catch hell for stating that, but I deal with this EVERYDAY).  If it is in fact a divot at the neck of your tooth, neither floss nor a toothpick can do that and it's not causing the gum to recede either.  Enamel is the hardest substance in the body and floss, toothbrush bristles or a toothpick will not mar it...what is, you ask?  read on...
 
What you probably have is called an abfraction lesion.  Follow me on this. 
It starts forming very slowly from clenching or grinding your teeth.  It can take years to form and you may not notice it until it is larger or you get cold sensitivity.  As you put abnormal pressures on your teeth (usually subconsiously at night while you sleep called Bruxism) small crystals of enamel "flake" off at the gumline (the more vulnerable area of the tooth for various reasons).  As these little crystals "flake" off, a divot forms.  This divot can cause the toothbrush to go deeper into the tooth and abrade away the gum, causing the recession of the gums.  If it is small nothing is usually done to fix it, but if it is more substantial, a bonding can be done to restore the "beer belly" of the tooth back.  Also, if you get cold sensitivity from it, there are things to do at home or get the bonding. 
 
How do you stop it from getting bigger?  You have to stop the tooth to tooth (or tooth to object) bruxism.  That is done with a type of nightguard (not the big U shaped drool all over your pillow thing) that STOPS the teeth from contacting anything.  The best device is an NTI, becuase it uses a natural reflex in your jaw to actually lower the muscle clenching.  I think the website is headacheprevention.com ... On a side note it helps with most headaches, too.  I don't know if you have any.  No bruxism, no divots...and continue flossing.
 
I'm not a fan of toothpicks, though, because I have seen damage done with them.  Check out a Stimudent.  It's made of Balsa wood and becomes somewhat pliable when wet so you won't do any injury. 

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