Does Everyone Need to Floss Every Day?

by | Apr 19, 2013 | Dental Hygiene

Flossing is one of those tiresome tasks that it is all too easy to ignore, especially at the end of the day when all you want to do is to climb into bed. So if you brush regularly and thoroughly, do you really still need to floss? You can probably guess the answer, as it is of course yes. If you think you are cleaning your teeth thoroughly by merely brushing, then consider this fact; approximately a third of the surfaces of your teeth are located in the contact areas in between each tooth, areas that cannot be reached with an ordinary toothbrush.

Reasons for Daily Flossing
If you are comfortable neglecting a third of your tooth surfaces then feel free to not floss, but most people will find this an uncomfortable fact. The truth is that flossing doesn’t really take very long to do, and once it has become a habit will be something that is easy to maintain. Your teeth should feel cleaner, and your breath may improve as you’ll be removing all the trapped food from in between your teeth and gums before it has a chance to begin decaying and rotting.

You may notice your teeth stay a little whiter for longer. This is because plaque bacteria trapped in between your teeth and gums will begin to harden into tartar within just forty eight hours if not regularly removed. Tartar looks yellow, is extremely hard and can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist during professional cleaning.

Even worse, if not removed, plaque bacteria will begin to irritate and inflame your gums, increasing your risk of developing gum disease. This condition is the most common cause of tooth loss in the world, and if not caught early can become chronic, requiring years of expensive and invasive treatment just to keep it in check. Plaque bacteria can also increase your risk if developing dental cavities, as they soften and attack the tooth enamel.

Quick Tips for Flossing Thoroughly
The mistake most people make is to be too stingy with the floss. Break off a nice long length of about eighteen inches. This will allow you plenty of room to use a fresh section for each tooth. One technique is to wind each end of the dental floss around the middle fingers, before sliding the floss in between the tooth right down to, and just below the gum line. The floss can then be wrapped around the tooth before being slid up the tooth, while still pressed against the surface, removing the maximum amount of plaque and food debris. The dental floss should then be wound on before proceeding to the next tooth.

Another technique is to tie the dental floss into a big loop, before flossing each tooth with a fresh section. It can also help to experiment with different flosses, as they come in different widths and textures. Finding the right one for you will help make flossing a habit that is soon hard to break.

For more information, contact Dr. Randell Bell in Midland, TX today; he and his staff are happy to help!

Source: http://www.findmydentist.com/articles/flossing-your-teeth.html

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