Cleaning your teeth after every meal and before bedtime is essential to maintaining good oral health. One of the most effective ways to clean your teeth is through dental flossing. In this article, we’ll talk about the importance of flossing, what happens when you don’t floss regularly, how to floss your teeth properly, and whether using a Waterpik works just as well as the traditional flosser.
Why Is Flossing Important?
Like brushing, flossing should be done regularly as it can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay. When you don’t floss, plaque can build up in your gum line and between your teeth. This can lead to serious dental problems down the road when not addressed right away. Flossing helps reduce bad breath. Halitosis or bad breath is a common problem especially when you ignore good dental hygiene. When food is trapped, it will slowly start to decay. And if you don’t remove the food particles stuck in between your teeth, your breath will start to smell bad. Practice good oral hygiene to ensure that your mouth is clean and you don’t have bad breath.
When plaque erodes your teeth’ enamel, this can also lead to gum disease and cause cavities. As a result, you get a foul-smelling breath. Flossing is one of the most effective ways to prevent bad breath. Flossing keeps you healthy. Are you aware that your heart health is connected to your oral health? Practicing good oral hygiene decreases your risk of developing heart disease. If you’re a parent, it’s also crucial that you teach your children how to brush and floss their teeth at an early age. Learning proper and good oral hygiene early on is essential to their long-term oral health.
Types of dental floss: Standard floss – Can come in flavored and unflavored, this thin strand is ideal if your teeth are so close together or are crowded together. Consider getting dental floss with a wax coating to make it easier to floss. Dental tape – Ideal when you have large spaces in your teeth, gaps in your teeth, or if you’re wearing braces. This type of floss is broader and also flatter. Super flosses – You can use this type of floss even with braces, gaps or bridges.
What Age Should Your Child Start Flossing?
Teach your child how to floss when you notice their tooth surfaces are next to each other. As a rule of thumb, they should floss at least once a day, preferably before sleeping to ensure their mouths stay clean. Here’s how to do it:1. Hold the floss in between your index finger and thumb, twining the thread around one finger so that you gain better control. Carefully insert the floss between your child’s teeth, and make sure you don’t apply too much pressure. 2. Create a C-shaped curve around each tooth and gently slide the thread up and down the side of each tooth and under your child’s gumline. 3. Make sure that you use another floss when you clean another tooth, to avoid food particles getting back into the tooth. 4. If there is a space between your child’s teeth, use an interdental brush for cleaning between the tooth surfaces. It’s recommended to teach a child how to brush and floss and at an early age so that he can carry this habit into his adulthood.
What is The Best Flossing Method?
Knowing how to floss properly is important to ensure the food particles are removed from your teeth. Use our tips below: Cut the dental floss to about 18 to 24 inches and hold it correctly with your middle fingers. Leave only two inches of thread for your teeth. Simply hold the floss with your thumb and forefinger and glide the thread up and down to effectively remove the food particles. When it reaches the gums, curve the floss at the base to remove food particles and plaque in between the gums and tooth. Just repeat the process until you have successfully removed all food particles stuck in between your teeth. While most people would brush their teeth first before flossing, it’s recommended to floss first and then brush your teeth.
What Happens If You Don’t Floss Regularly
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Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque that has built up between your teeth. When you don’t floss regularly, the bacteria in plaque can release acids that damages your tooth enamel. The acids that stay on your teeth and are not removed can lead to cavities over time. You also increase the risk of developing gum disease when plaque turns to tartar. When you’re experiencing tooth pain, the damage may be very difficult to reverse as the decay has already reached the pulp of your tooth. You can avoid this problem with regular flossing and brushing.
Can Flossing Prevent Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel and the dentin layer of your tooth. It occurs when sugary and starchy food gets stuck in your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth digest this food, turning them into acids. These acids will gradually dissolve your tooth’s enamel, creating holes called cavities. You can prevent tooth decay with regular brushing and flossing. It’s the only way to effectively remove food particles and plaque in between your teeth and in the gumline. In addition, it’s also crucial to get a professional cleaning at least once a year or more, depending on your condition.
Other ways to prevent tooth decay: Use toothpaste with fluoride when brushing your teeth. You need to brush at least twice a day, after meals and before going to bed. Rinse your teeth with a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Some mouthwash also contains antiseptic ingredients that help kill bacteria-causing plaque. Ask your dentist about dental sealants that help protect molars from decay. Drink water with fluoride to protect your tooth. Don’t forget to get professional oral exams and cleanings. Avoid eating sugary and starchy food such as candy and chips. They can remain on the tooth surface and can be difficult to remove without flossing. Eat balanced meals and try to limit the snacks.
Does a Waterpik Flosser Work as Well as Traditional Floss?
A Waterpik is the name of the water flosser brand. Also called an oral irrigator, it uses water to effectively remove food particles, especially in those stuck in difficult-to-reach areas. Use a water flosser if it’s difficult to use the traditional dental floss. While a water flosser is highly effective at removing food particles and even plaque in between your teeth and gum line, it’s not a replacement for brushing or traditional flossing. You should still brush your teeth, ideally after using the oral irrigator. Using a water flosser: Fill the water flosser’s tank with water and position it close to your teeth. Hold the oral irrigator at a 90-degree angle and press on. You can set it to high, low or medium. If you’re a first-timer, try to set it at low first to avoid irritating your gums. You could end up with bleeding gums if you’re not careful. It should take you about two minutes to clean your entire mouth. Compared to regular flossing, a water flosser also can effectively remove food particles stuck in your teeth. Just make sure that you know how to properly use the oral irrigator. We do recommend that you don’t skip the traditional floss. The downside of using an oral irrigator is that it can be costly and messier to use than traditional floss. Consider speaking with your dentist to help you determine which is best for you.
What if Your Gums Bleed or Become Irritated When Flossing?
When your gums bleed while flossing, tartar may be present on your teeth or bacteria could be building up around your crown. Another reason is that you may not be properly flossing your teeth. If your gums bleed, don’t panic. Unless you have serious dental health issues, the bleeding will go away. Just gargle with lukewarm water to get rid of the blood. Avoid the area that bleeds and see a dentist afterward. Your dentist can tell you if there are dental issues that need to be addressed. Bleeding gums could also be a sign of periodontal disease. The culprit could be gingivitis or periodontitis. You can develop gingivitis when the bacteria from your food turns into plaque and starts building up on your teeth. If not removed, it can harden and lead to tooth decay and eventually tooth loss. Fortunately, gingivitis can be prevented and treated by regular flossing and by using an antibacterial mouthwash.
Contact Us Today
Whether you need professional teeth cleaning or gum care, we can help. We a family dental practice committed to improving our customers’ dental health. We specialize in general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Our compassionate team can even assist with sleep apnea; we have the right dental tools for this. Our goal is to help you achieve the perfect smile and excellent dental health. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.