Have you visited the dentist for your routine checkup and cleaning, and did they ask you whether you’ve been flossing every day? At that moment, you may have panicked a little because you haven’t. Flossing your teeth may not seem like a necessity if you’re brushing twice a day, but it can have more of an impact on your oral health than you may think. Read on to learn the importance of your oral hygiene routine and the best way to floss your teeth.
Why is Flossing Important?
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice each day and flossing daily to maintain good oral health. You may have heard that flossing isn’t as important as everyone makes it seem, but it actually is. In fact, the Journal of Dental Hygiene published research that showed the combination of brushing and flossing helps reduce gingivitis. So, what does this mean for your mouth?
Each time you don’t floss, you’re increasing your risk of developing gingivitis and cavities because you’re not routinely removing accumulated dental plaque from between your teeth. There are thousands of bacteria in the plaque that’s in your mouth. When its not regularly, these bacteria can build up and infect your gums, causing them to become irritated, begin bleeding, and become swollen. Additionally, when you don’t floss, cavities are more likely to develop between your teeth due to bacteria attacking your tooth enamel and leaving your pearly whites vulnerable.
What is the Best Way to Floss?
It’s important to floss at least once every day. In order to get the most out of the action though, it’s important to practice the proper technique. Unfortunately, most people aren’t taught the proper way to floss. Here’s the best 4-step technique:
- Get 18 inches of dental floss and wind the majority of it around one of your middle fingers. Be sure to twist the remaining portion of it around the middle finger on your other hand.
- Hold the dental floss tautly between your thumbs and index finger and guide it between your teeth with a gentle motion.
- Once the floss touches your gumline, angle it into a “C” shape and move it between your gum and tooth. Gently but tightly rub the floss against your tooth with an up-and-down motion.
- Repeat these steps for each of your teeth including the ones in the far back of your mouth.
How Else Can You Prevent Oral Health Problems?
The best way to prevent oral health problems from developing is to visit your dentist for routine checkups and cleanings on top of brushing and flossing regularly. During your visit, your dentist can inform you of the state of your oral health, allowing you to make any necessary changes to your oral hygiene techniques. This also ensures that your mouth is always in tip-top shape!
About the Practice
At More Smiles Dental Spa, we offer the care and expertise of three highly trained dentists. We don’t just focus on making our patients’ smiles look great, but also optimizing their oral health and teaching them the best ways to take care of their teeth and gums. We have a state-of-the-art facility and utilize the latest and greatest techniques and technology in our field because our patients deserve the highest quality of treatment. For questions or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, visit our website or contact 985-809-7645.