It is common knowledge that everyone should brush their
teeth in order to maintain good oral health. For whatever reason, flossing your
teeth daily does not hold the same level of importance with the every person. But
by flossing just once a day, you can decrease your risk of gum disease, improve
your overall health, and increase the odds of achieving and maintaining good
oral health.
A toothbrush and toothpaste can clean the most of the
tooth’s surface area, but only flossing can clean in between the teeth where
the toothbrush can’t reach. Dental floss will help to remove debris, plaque and
bacteria that remain on the teeth and gums. Not only does its reduce the risk
of tooth decay, but removal of this additional debris can also aid in
controlling bad breath.
Flossing should only take you between two and three
minutes to complete and should be done at least once daily. Ideally I would
recommend flossing right before bed, but any way you can incorporate it into
your daily routine should work. The idea is to find a time that is convenient
for you so you won’t forget.
There are a wide variety of flosses available, and for
the most part they do a similar job in removing debris and plaque. Wide floss
(dental tape) works really well in cleaning large spaces and under bridges,
while waxed floss works well between tight contacts. The pre-threaded flossers
or floss holders can help when flossing someone else’s teeth or if you have
difficulty reaching any spots in your own mouth. And if you have children, they should begin
flossing as soon as they two or more teeth that touch.
While water picks are a good adjunct to help clean the
teeth, they are not effective enough to replace flossing. They help to remove
food from difficult areas and around braces, but they do not remove the plaque
that remains in between the teeth. When in doubt regarding what type of floss
to use in your particular case, be sure to contact your dentist or dental
hygienist.
If you have any more
questions about flossing or gum disease, visit us at www.brownandkupper.com for more
answers.
Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc
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