Do you want healthy teeth and gums? What about a full set of teeth long after you retire? If the answer is an absolute YES, then we need to figure out a way to do that. Fortunately, it’s not very hard or even expensive to do that. If you’re lucky enough to have healthy teeth and gums today, then you need to FLOSS them to ensure they last and stay healthy!
Flossing has proven to be a very effective method in promoting and maintaining healthy teeth and gums. With healthy teeth and gums, you not only have a beautiful smile, but you’re also less likely to develop some form of heart disease! But it’s not just using floss. Flossing must be done correctly to be effective! Take a look at the video we put together, showing you the correct way to floss.
What Actually Happens When You Floss?
When you are flossing, you are physically removing plaque and tarter from the surface of your tooth. Plaque comes from the food we eat. It’s the soft, yellow filmy material that gets stuck between your teeth after meals. If plaque isn’t removed, it will harden over time. Once it becomes hard, it is now called tarter. Tarter is hard and chalky, and the only way to remove it is to take a trip to your dentist and have him/her remove it. When tarter isn’t removed, cavities and other issues, including gum disease will begin to develop.
But Do I Really Have to Floss?
Absolutely. Brushing alone will not remove plague that is hidden between your teeth and under your gums. There are pockets around your tooth where it’s impossible for your toothbrush to reach.
Flossing Tips and Tricks
1. Waxed floss or floss tape works best to help remove more plaque with each motion.
2. Wrap the floss around your middle fingers and give enough slack to use your pointer finger and thumb to direct and push the floss between teeth
3. Once floss passes the tightest area between your teeth, do sweeping motions as far up/down the tooth as you can and wrap it around your tooth and sweep up. This is considered “C-shape” flossing due to the wrapping and sweeping movement that you do.
4. Repeat the sweeping motion 3-5 times on each side of your tooth.
5. Practice makes perfect! The more often you floss the better you will be at it and can finish flossing within 2 minutes.
6. If bleeding occurs, do not stop flossing! It is a sign that you need to floss more! Continue with your flossing routine just be more gentle in those particular areas
7. For lower front teeth, sometimes pulling the floss all the way through, instead of going back up after the sweeping motion can help pull more plaque out from that area. It’s the one area that everyone gets the most tartar build up.
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Written by Dr. Kim H. Nguyen
Owner of Mint Dental OC and is a leading dentist in Southern California.
