• 19 JUL 18
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    What Does Flossing Do Exactly?

    Dental floss container with floss coming out, spelling out the word "Floss".

    If you have good oral hygiene, brushing your teeth is an integral part of your morning and bedtime routines – but what about flossing? According to WebMD, flossing is even more important than brushing, so why do so many skip this step? If you make any of the following excuses to avoid flossing, rethink your decision.

     

    Tidbits About Flossing

    There is a specific technique that goes along with flossing and reasons why you floss a certain way. Brushing your teeth is when you use a toothbrush combined with toothpaste to buff and polish your teeth. Flossing is much different, as you use a floss line (almost like string) to dislodge food by passing it through the cracks in your teeth.

     

    Flossing is sadly an area that many people skip over, when it is almost as important as brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth seems to cover most of your tooth surface, removing plaque and food particles that would decay your teeth and cause tooth erosion. However, all is not said and done once brushing is over. Flossing is an integral part to having good oral health, as the areas you floss cover about 40% of your teeth surfaces. If you skip flossing, you skip cleaning many of your tooth surfaces.

     

    Areas that are most prone to decay and erosion are actually the areas in between your teeth because food can become stuck there for a long time. That is why it’s so important to clean these areas every single day. However, there is a certain way to floss the teeth, and many people don’t realize it.

     

    Close-up view of a woman flossing her teeth.

    Proper Flossing Technique

    Just like with brushing, there is a proper way to floss your teeth. If you didn’t know that there are specific techniques for brushing your teeth, follow these quick tips:

    • Use a soft-bristled brush with ADA-approved toothpaste every time you brush.
    • Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or when the bristles become frayed to avoid bacteria buildup.
    • Brush for at least 2 minutes every time you brush, and brush your teeth at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Night time is the most important time to brush the teeth.
    • Don’t just brush back and forth! Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, and brush in circular motions on the front, backs and tops of the teeth. Make sure to gently brush down into your gum line.

     

    Now, when it comes to flossing, there is also a specific technique for this as well. Here are some guidelines for great flossing:

    • Every time you floss, get about 18 inches of new, clean floss. Don’t reuse floss, as bacteria can stay on your floss and then get deposited in between your teeth the next time you floss. This accelerates tooth decay.
    • Wind the floss around either your two middle fingers or pointer fingers on your hands, leaving about 1-2 inches of space to floss with.
    • Pull the floss taught as you pass it through the areas between your teeth. Make sure to move floss up into the gum line—or the triangular gum area between the teeth—until the floss naturally stops.
    • As you pull the floss down, make sure to gently scrape your teeth as the floss moves down. This gets stuck-on plaque to come off easier.
    • Only use floss to floss the teeth. Floss is made from either nylon or teflon, which makes it strong and effective for removing food and plaque, but soft enough that it doesn’t harm your teeth or gums.

     

    The American Dental Association reports that sometimes, patients will use random objects to floss or to try to dislodge food particles from their teeth. 42% of people surveyed who do this, have reported dental injuries or pain. Always stick to using floss when it comes to removing particles from the teeth.

     

    Young female child looking at the camera and flossing her teeth.

    Your Dentist Will Floss Your Teeth

    Did you know that every patient should be visiting their dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive examinations and dental cleanings? At your dental checkup, you will get an oral cancer screening. This is when they inspect inside your mouth for the signs of oral cancer. They may also check your neck and throat for anything abnormal. Dental x-rays are also taken to detect areas of tooth decay that may be hidden under your tooth surface.

     

    These simple services can save your teeth from decay or tooth loss and could even save your life when it comes to oral cancer. Integral to your biannual check up is the dental cleaning. This is about 30 minutes of intense, yet gentle cleaning for your teeth. Each tooth is meticulously cleaned with silver probing tools, scraping away stuck on tartar and other particles you can’t get off your teeth by yourself. The teeth are then cleaned and polished with dental tools until each surface is silky smooth. But, even at the dental office, a patient’s mouth isn’t truly clean without a thorough flossing.

     

    A dental hygienist will thoroughly floss between every tooth several times, making sure to dislodge any particles in the process. Through this flossing, a hygienist and dentist can see the signs of poor oral hygiene habits or even the presence of gum disease if your gums bleed and are sensitive.

     

    Why Should You Floss?

    You can do amazingly well with brushing your teeth and still have tooth decay every time you come into the dental office. That can certainly happen if you are not flossing your teeth the recommended amount. Floss your teeth every single day, at least aiming to floss at night, if nothing else. If you are confused about flossing technique, what brands of floss to buy or simply need more convincing about why you should floss, we are always here to help you. Call Dr. Evanson’s office at (720) 409-0008 with all your questions or to schedule your comprehensive exam and cleaning!

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