A floss a day keeps the dentist away

Be honest, do you floss your teeth? Given the fact that you’re reading this very article, it’s likely that the answer is either “No” or “Erm, sometimes…” Well, today we’re going to explore the often-overlooked but crucial aspect of oral hygiene: flossing!

Many of us diligently brush our teeth twice a day, but flossing tends to be the forgotten step in our oral care routine. In this friendly and informative blog, we'll delve into the significance of flossing, its benefits, and why it's a vital practice for maintaining a healthy smile.

The Basics of Flossing

Flossing is the act of using a thin, flexible piece of string called dental floss to clean between your teeth and along the gumline. This process helps to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria that your toothbrush might miss.

Dental floss can be made of nylon or Teflon and comes in various types, such as waxed or unwaxed, flavoured or unflavored, in different thicknesses, and even in pressurised water form (we’ll get to this later) to cater to individual preferences.

The Importance of Flossing

Imagine your teeth as a set of interconnected pearls on a necklace. While brushing effectively cleans the outer surfaces and chewing surfaces of your teeth, it cannot reach the tight spaces between each pearl. These interdental spaces are where flossing plays a crucial role.

If you neglect to floss, plaque can accumulate, harden into tartar, and lead to various dental issues, including:

Cavities: Plaque and food particles trapped between teeth can create cavities, which can be painful and require costly dental procedures to fix.
Gum Disease: When plaque is left to thrive, it irritates and inflames the gums, leading to gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss.
Bad Breath: The presence of food debris and bacteria can result in persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis.
Discolouration: Stains from food, drinks, and tobacco can easily become trapped between teeth and contribute to unsightly discolouration.

The Right Way to Floss

Traditional string floss may be tricky to grasp the hang of at first, but with a little practice, it becomes an easy and effective habit. However, if you are struggling then “floss picks” might be a better option for you because they have a little handle to make things easier, and even further, water flossers are becoming incredibly popular.

Here's a step-by-step guide to proper flossing (if you’re using floss picks or a water flosser then you can skip step 1):

1. Start with Enough Floss: Cut about 18 inches of floss and wind the ends around your middle fingers, leaving a couple of inches of floss to work with.

2. Slide Between Teeth: Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a sawing motion. Avoid snapping or forcing the floss, as this may damage your gums.

3. Form a "C" Shape: Curve the floss into a "C" shape around each tooth and carefully glide it under the gumline. Be gentle to prevent injuring the sensitive gum tissue.

4. Use a Clean Section: As you move from one tooth to the next, use a clean section of floss. Reusing the same segment can redistribute bacteria.

5. Be Thorough Yet Gentle: Make sure to floss both sides of each tooth and along the gumline, but do so with a light touch to protect your gums.

Flossing Tips for Success

To make flossing an integral part of your oral care routine, consider these helpful tips:

1. Floss Once a Day: Aim to floss at least once a day, preferably before bedtime, to remove accumulated debris and plaque from the day's meals.

2. Choose the Right Floss: Experiment with different types of floss until you find one that suits your teeth and gums. Whether you prefer waxed, unwaxed, flavoured, unflavored or water floss, the right choice is one that encourages you to floss regularly.

3. Flossing Tools: If traditional flossing is challenging for you, consider using floss picks, dental sticks, water flossers or interdental brushes to clean between your teeth effectively.

4. Make it a Family Affair: Encourage your family members, including children, to floss regularly. Lead by example, and make flossing a fun and interactive activity for everyone.

A floss a day keeps the dentist away

As much as we love to fix our patients' dental problems, we also love to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place.

Aside from brushing and regulating your sugar intake, flossing is another key thing that can help you prevent future dental issues; saving you time, money and TEETH!

A lot of people overlook flossing, but it is such an important component of oral hygiene. By taking a few minutes each day to floss, you can enhance your smile's appearance and safeguard your teeth and gums for years to come.

If you feel as though your teeth are due a professional clean or if you’d like some advice or assistance then book in with us today and we’ll be happy to help.