Flossing Your Teeth: A Comprehensive Guide
- Aug 23 2024
Is flossing your teeth a part of your daily oral hygiene routine? If not, you could be putting yourself at serious risk of long-term oral health issues. The same is true if you aren’t applying the right technique. Here’s what you need to know about flossing.
Why Flossing Is So Important
Flossing plays a critical role in supporting lasting oral health. Plaque deposits provide an environment where bacteria can thrive, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. When you floss, you remove this plaque from hard-to-reach places.
Regularly flossing your teeth helps prevent the formation of plaque deposits. It also stops deposits from persisting long enough to harden into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove and requires professional teeth cleaning to handle.
In the short term, flossing helps prevent issues such as cavities and gingivitis. Reducing the risk of those issues also helps avoid more serious problems down the line, such as tooth loss and periodontitis.
In fact, a study found that in adults over the age of 65, the average tooth loss over five years was one tooth for those who floss vs. four teeth for those who did not floss. Safeguarding your natural teeth is a primary goal of general dental care.
Additionally, flossing doesn’t just support your smile. By preventing issues like gum disease, it also helps improve your overall health. A variety of health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes, are linked to gum disease.
There are also some less critical but still notable benefits of flossing. For example, removing plaque helps keep your teeth whiter, giving you a bright smile. Removing plaque, bacteria, and bits of food can also significantly improve bad breath.
Proper Flossing Technique
To get the most benefit from flossing, it’s important to make sure you’re doing so correctly. First, you will want to floss regularly. In general, flossing should be done once a day. Ideally, tackle flossing your teeth before bedtime to remove daily plaque buildup and food debris.
Using the proper technique is essential to ensure lasting results. Start out with a piece of floss about 18 inches in length. Then, wind most of it around one finger, using a finger on the opposite hand to collect used floss.
Hold the floss tight between your thumbs and index fingers. Gently slide it between your teeth, being careful to avoid excess pressure on the gums. If your gums are sore or bleeding during flossing, you may need periodontal care.
Move the floss back and forth, down the length of the tooth. When you reach the gumline, form a “C” shape around one tooth and gently floss the base of the tooth at the gumline.
After the first tooth is done, move to a fresh section of floss to avoid spreading bacteria around your mouth. Make sure to get the areas in between all of your teeth so that you can enjoy a fresh and clean smile.
Alternatives to Flossing
If regular flossing isn’t for you, there are alternative options. Interdental brushes, dental picks, and pre-threaded floss are all methods that can deliver results with added convenience.
Water flossing is another potential option to consider. These devices rely on pressurized water to remove plaque and achieve excellent coverage. A handheld device could be more comfortable for you compared to floss.
Take a Proactive Approach to Protect Your Smile
Incorporating flossing your teeth into your daily oral hygiene routine is essential to ensure to protect both your oral and overall health. If you have questions about your oral hygiene routine, reach out to Payam Cohen DDS, PC, for trusted general and cosmetic dentistry in Forest Hills, NY.
Categories: Flossing