December 29, 2022
Secrets to Make Flossing Simpler
Flossing your teeth doesn’t have to be hard. There are different ways flossing can be made easier to do and learn. Incorporating flossing into your daily oral regimen is important because it helps strengthen gums, keeping them healthy and firm around the teeth. The more firm the gum tissue is, the less likely food and plaque will get trapped there. So why do so few people floss daily if it’s so important? Read on to find out more.
Do You Like to Floss?
Few people admit to enjoying the tedious, often difficult task of dental flossing. There are some tips to make it easier. It doesn't take long at all to floss your entire mouth. Once you get the hang of it, flossing should take only a few moments.
A Dental Pro Can Show You How
Any dental professional would advise you to start with a piece of floss that is about sixteen to eighteen inches long. Wrap the one end of the floss around your middle finger on one hand, and the other end of the floss around the middle finger of the other, being careful to get your fingers and floss close together, within an inch of one another. Guide the floss with your index fingers and wiggle it gently between the teeth. Use a “C” shape to curve the tooth towards the front and the back to trace the gums triangular shape. When you move the floss around the mouth, you will also move the floss on the fingers using up more of the clean, unused areas of the floss.
Remember, the closer the fingers are together, the more dexterity and control over the floss you’ll have. The fingers can slide out creating more distance in the floss as you move around the mouth. Take a moment to readjust your fingers and the floss to keep one inch (at most) between them, as you floss all of your teeth.
How Often Should You Floss?
You should floss your teeth once a day every day. Left-over food debris breaks down into soft bacterial plaque and is harmful to teeth and gums. If this plaque isn’t removed by brushing and flossing within twenty-four hours, it starts to harden on your teeth. First becoming mature plaque and then hardening and thickening on the teeth, at which time it is then referred to as tartar/calculus.
You can remove soft plaque by flossing, but you cannot remove hardened plaque that has become tartar/calculus. Your dental hygienist needs to remove these deposits on the teeth during your routine dental visits, which oftentimes only happens twice a year.
Flossing Can Prevent Cavities
Daily flossing can also help to reduce the risk of cavities. The mechanical motion of moving the floss up and down between the teeth breaks up the numerous bacterial colonies. If soft bacterial plaque is not removed, it can create acids that weaken teeth.
Nobody loves to floss, except maybe dental hygienists, but it’s a vital part of keeping your overall teeth and gum health. If the gums and bones around the teeth are not healthy, the gums can bleed, get puffy, and loose.
Use Flossers
Flossers or flossing gadgets that resemble mini sling shots, can make it easier to floss your teeth. You may even be able to do it one-handed! Some people opt to carry these in their car, lunch bag, purse, or book bags so they’re available on the “go” whenever needed. Flossers on the go is better than not cleaning between your teeth at all.
Use a Waterpik
Waterpiks have been a popular alternative to traditional flossing for decades. Not meant to replace flossing entirely, but it is a good option if flossing is difficult to do, or the mouth has challenges to get around. The waterpik uses water lavage along the gums much like tracing a picture onto a piece of paper. The force of the water and the temperature is controlled by you.
Start by hanging your head over the sink. Adapt the waterpik so that it’s close to your gums but not resting on them, or it can block the flow of water from the tip. Trace your gums around the surface of your teeth, pausing briefly between teeth to allow more waterflow to pulse and flush out debris. Like floss, a waterpik should be used every day.
Conclusion
The warm and professional dental team at Novi Oaks Dental want to let you know that your smile is always in good hands. The competent and caring staff wants to do everything possible to help you achieve your smile goals, and then keep you smiling long afterward. Giving you the tips, tools and instruction to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy is just one of the many things they do at Novi Oaks Dental. Learn more about what makes Novi Oaks Dental the premier choice for general and cosmetic dentistry in Novi, Michigan and the surrounding communities here.
