If you are a human being with teeth, you need to know the full story on flossing. In addition to twice daily brushing and routine six-month visits with your Duncan or Velma dentist, flossing is one of the most important habits that can help you avoid gum disease. It’s estimated that nearly half of all adults over 35 in America have some degree of gum disease. This is an alarming estimate when you consider that gum disease can rob you of your teeth. Flossing can help you hold onto your teeth for life and avoid developing irreversible gum disease.
Do you need a Velma dentist who will give you the straight story on oral health and hygiene? Dr. Matthew Bridges is here for you and your family. Contact our Duncan OK dental office at 580-255-4880 for an appointment.
Common Misperceptions About Flossing
Perhaps the most common mistake people make is assuming that the purpose of flossing is to remove bits of food from between the teeth. If the only time you think of flossing is when you have a shred of steak stuck in your teeth (or eat popcorn), you need to know the truth. The purpose of flossing is to remove plaque and bacteria from (a) between the teeth and (b) between the teeth and the gums.
A common misperception is that flossing every couple of days is good enough. If you wouldn’t skip a day of brushing your teeth, you shouldn’t skip a day of flossing. Failing to floss leaves approximately 36 percent of your tooth surfaces uncleaned. This can let plaque harden into tartar between the teeth, which will give bacteria a food source that encourages them to feast. This makes cavities and enamel demineralization more likely to occur.
Another misperception is that you have to use floss to floss. If loose floss has never been easy for you to manipulate, there are many efficient alternatives. Flossing picks, end-tufted brushes, stiff-ended picks, and oral irrigators (water flossers) are all excellent ways to clean the surfaces between the teeth and at the gum line. If you don’t floss daily because traditional loose floss is not convenient, find an alternative method of flossing and make it a part of your daily routine.
How to Floss Properly
No matter which flossing tool you prefer, there are a few guidelines you should follow when you floss every day.
1. Use new floss every time you floss. Reusing disposable floss or flossers can spread bacteria. If you use a multi-use tool, make sure to clean it regularly.
2. Use about 18 inches if you use loose floss. Wrap it around the middle fingers, and ensure you have enough slack to grip and manipulate it with your index fingers.
3. Rub the floss against the side of each tooth, starting at the gum line and working downward. Repeat 2-3 times for each side of the tooth.
4. Gently move the floss into the C-curve where the tooth meets the gums, to remove plaque and bacteria from the periodontal pockets.
5. Don’t forget to floss the back surfaces of your back teeth. The molars at the back of the mouth are already harder to keep clean, due to their pitted surface and location. Make sure you floss where the molars meet the gums in the back.
If Flossing Makes Your Gums Bleed
A common concern we hear from patients is that flossing makes their gums bleed and causes inflammation. This can certainly make it a challenge to floss every day, but it is a sign you need to be flossing more regularly. If this happens to you, take the two-week challenge. It may make you sore at first, but if you floss every day for 14 days, you should stop bleeding. As your gums get cleaner and have bacteria removed regularly, they will get stronger and healthier. If you still can’t tolerate flossing after two weeks of daily practice, call us for an appointment. You may need periodontal care visits to get your gums healthy again.
Do you want to have the best oral health of your life? Contact Velma dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges at Chisholm Trail Smile Center. We don’t care how long it’s been since you’ve seen a dentist—we just want to help you have healthy teeth and gums. Call us today at 580-255-4880 to make an appointment.
