Are You Flossing Enough?

Young woman smileIn case you were unaware, brushing alone is not enough to fight cavities and gingivitis. The American Dental Association, along with dentists everywhere, have been preaching for years how important it is to floss at least once a day. When a person flosses once a day and brushes at least twice a day, they are much more likely to achieve optimal oral health.

There are so many important reasons why everyone should be flossing on a regular basis. It removes dangerous and cavity forming plaque from the spaces between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. If plaque is left alone, it can eventually harden and turn into tartar. Flossing also helps with the prevention of gingivitis and gum disease.

Related: Your Oral Health is Linked to Your Overall Health.

Our guess is that most everyone above the age of 5 has probably heard someone talk about the importance of flossing at one point in their lives. Even though it is something that is talked about and is considered common knowledge, a majority of Americans do not floss enough. While some may floss once a week, many do not floss at all.

There are some misconceptions out there about flossing that may be keeping some people from forming a daily flossing habit. One misconception is that you floss to remove food from between your teeth. As we pointed out earlier, it is not necessarily the bits of food in the spaces between your teeth that are as dangerous as the plaque that forms there.

Related: Which Mouthwash is Best for You?

Others do not floss because they are not sure exactly how to do it. To be sure, it does take a few minutes to floss and it is not the easiest of grooming activities. However, it is by far one of the most important personal hygiene related activities we can do.

For those that may need a refresher on good flossing techniques, here is a list of steps the American Dental Association offers:

  •      Be sure to use around 18 inches of floss.
  •      Wrap both ends around the middle fingers of both hands.
  •      Using your thumb and forefinger, grasp the string tightly and use a rubbing motion to guide the string between your teeth.
  •      Once the floss reaches the gum line, form a “C” with the string to follow the shape of the tooth.
  •      Move the string gently up and down while holding it firmly against the tooth.
  •      Repeat with the other tooth.
  •      Now repeat this process with the rest of your teeth.
  •      Be sure to use fresh sections of floss as you go along.

If these directions are not clear, take a minute to look up a video on YouTube or give Smile Concepts a call at 480-951-2800. We are more than happy to take a minute to show you how to properly floss.

In my years as a dentist, I can definitely say that there is a huge difference in the overall health of a patient’s mouth when they are flossing regularly. I can tell the difference immediately. I hope you are flossing every day and if you are not, the best thing you can do is start now.

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