Good dental hygiene can be achieved through a simple routine at home! While most people believe brushing twice a day is sufficient, it’s important to not overlook the importance of flossing. Flossing is a crucial part of any daily dental care regimen as it eliminates any plaque stuck between the teeth and helps prevent cavities.
Here are three tips we like sharing with our patients to help encourage better, more frequent flossing at home.
Have a Good Grip
Having a good grip is crucial to flossing effectively. The floss should be held tightly at an angle to ensure it makes contact with the side of the tooth where plaque tends to hide. There are countless varieties of floss available at the store, so it’s important to choose one that guarantees precision and control. Your dentist should be able to help make a suggestion based on your unique needs.
Be Gentle
While a good grip is important, it’s also important to be gentle in between your teeth. Flossing should be done slowly and steadily. Going too hard or too deep during the process can cause discomfort or even lead to gum bleeding. In fact, it can even wear down the enamel on your teeth.
Be Generous
Too often we see patients using tiny pieces of floss to floss their entire mouth. If using string floss, it should be able to span from your thumb to your forefinger to easily slide in between your teeth. If you use too short of a piece, it can cause damage or even get stuck in your teeth.
What are some of the tips and tricks you follow to encourage proper flossing?
