Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile and avoiding tooth decay. However, many kids and adults still struggle to add flossing to their daily oral care routines. How can you make flossing easier so that you are not dreading doing it every day? Read on to learn three secrets to make flossing easier!
Why Is Flossing Daily So Important?
Almost half of all American adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. Additionally, recent studies show that approximately one in four adults between the ages of 20 and 64 currently has a cavity. Cavities and periodontal disease can lead to discomfort and pain, as well as many costly dental treatments. By taking a proactive approach to your oral health, you can avoid these things entirely and keep your teeth healthy.
Flossing is one of the most important ways that you can act every day to avoid tooth decay and periodontal disease. Even if you brush your teeth correctly, food particles and plaque will still settle between your teeth and along your gum line. Without floss to manually get in those gaps and dislodge bacteria and plaque, tartar will start to form. Flossing also helps to get rid of the bacteria that cause bad breath in your mouth.
Tip #1: Use Enough Floss
When you are not tearing off a piece of floss that is big enough, it can be uncomfortable to get between your teeth. Additionally, your fingers might keep slipping. Floss is relatively inexpensive, so it’s a great idea to use it liberally. Tear off a piece of floss that is between 12 and 18 inches long every time you floss.
As you start to floss, wrap the majority of the floss around the middle fingers of your hands, leaving only an inch or so of floss between them that will be going in between your teeth. By holding the floss correctly and having plenty torn off, it is easy and comfortable to get the job done. Tearing off enough floss also makes sure that you are not putting dirty floss that has already been used back in between your teeth.
Tip #2: Be Gentle
Some people floss between their teeth aggressively because they assume that pressing harder will do a better job. In reality, this can make you uncomfortable and cause your gums to bleed. Be gentle when you floss and guide the string up and down the sides of each tooth. You should always let the floss do the work for you and avoid sawing motions. If you find that uncoated floss is too harsh, choose coated floss that will glide between your teeth more easily.
Tip #3: Get a Grip
In order to do a good job flossing, you need to hold the floss taut between your fingers. If you keep the floss too slack, it will not do an efficient job of getting rid of food particles and plaque between your teeth. As you floss, ensure that the dental floss is making contact with each side of your tooth and that it dips slightly below the gumline.
Many people struggle to find the perfect flossing technique when they are not used to doing it daily. If you are not sure whether you are flossing correctly, ask your dentist to walk you through it during your next appointment. They will be more than happy to help!
Improve Your Oral Health at Coast Dental Centre
If you’re tired of feeling frustrated by your oral care routine and want to improve your smile, contact Coast Dental Centre. We are a group of skilled, compassionate dentists in Maple Ridge, and we offer a comprehensive variety of services that will help transform your smile. To make your appointment today, call us today at 604-463-2227.
