Flossing gets the debris in between your teeth and under your gums that cannot be reached effectively by just brushing. These areas of the mouth are the most common areas that give rise to tooth decay and gum disease and by neglecting to floss those areas regularly, you are making yourself more susceptible to dangerous oral health problems.
How important is flossing? According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), flossing is the single most important weapon against plaque. Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath.
Here are some helpful tips for flossing.
Some do?s for flossing:
- Use a length of about 18? of floss twine.?? Wrap the floss twine around your middle finger.?? Now use your thumb and index finger to hold the floss.
- Begin near the gum line and then gently bring the floss down.
- Next gently glide the floss between the teeth with a rubbing motion.
- Curve the floss along the gum line and floss between teeth.
- Just like brushing, set a flossing pattern and do it daily
Some don?ts for flossing:
- Do not use the floss in saw like movements.
- Do not reuse the same part. It is likely to be covered with plaque.
- Do not floss with aggressive strokes. It may cut the gum and cause bleeding.
- Do not floss in a hurry.
- Do not replace brushing with flossing. Flossing should be done once a day, everyday.
Flossing goes a long way in preventing plaque build-up and removing food debris, thus preventing dental diseases. Come visit Krengel Dental for more advice on how to floss and take care of your teeth!
