The Importance of Flossing Well
Practicing healthy oral hygiene habits keeps your teeth and gums strong and functioning at their peak performance. Most everyone knows the importance of brushing your teeth, but flossing plays a strong role in your mouth’s health as well.
When you come in to see us at VP Dental in Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. Valerie M. Preston and the rest of our team are oral hygiene specialists that have the expertise to give you and your family superior care.
When you come in for your dental exam, we clean your teeth and talk to you about how to incorporate good, oral hygiene into your daily routine, which includes brushing, flossing, and scheduling regular checkups with us every six months.
The importance of flossing
You want to floss because it helps remove the buildup of plaque on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque can cause irritation to your gums, resulting in redness, swelling, and even bleeding, which can lead to gingivitis. Flossing also helps reduce the development of cavities between your teeth.
At your routine visits with us at VP Dental, we show you the proper technique for flossing, and we recommend that you do it at least once a day.
When to floss
Flossing before bedtime ensures your teeth are free and clear of any food that could sit on your teeth while sleeping, which could cause plaque to develop.
Studies show you should floss before brushing your teeth. Flossing first dislodges debris from between your teeth and loosens bacteria as well. You should then use a soft-bristle toothbrush to remove any additional particles left in your mouth or on your teeth and rinse with water.
How to floss
We recommend you choose a standard, waxed floss, which glides between your teeth and won’t shred as non-waxed floss can.
To floss, you simply:
- 1. Wrap the string of floss around your index and middle fingers.
- 2. Place the floss around each tooth in a C-shape.
- 3. Gently allow the floss to go below your gum line.
- 4. Slowly move the floss up and down while pushing and pulling.
Floss comes in all kinds of coatings, colors, and sizes to accommodate your specific needs. You can use other tools for flossing that include a water flosser or disposable picks, which are convenient and easy to hold in your hand.
If you have braces, you can use dental tape, which is flat and can fit into large spaces and gaps. Super flosses also work if you have braces, gaps, or bridges in your mouth.
When you make flossing a daily habit, you can reduce the development of oral issues and enjoy clean, healthy teeth and gums.
To contact us for an appointment, call our Raleigh office at 919-230-6121 today or use our convenient online scheduling tool.
