The absolute best thing you can do for your teeth is to floss them regularly. My dentist says twice a day. That is because on a daily basis a lot of debris and gunk will get into your mouth and between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach. A buildup of plaque can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other diseases in the mouth. This is why flossing is so important.
When you brush your teeth, you will miss a lot of debris in your mouth simply because even the smallest tooth brush cannot reach between your teeth. When you miss these particles and hard to reach debris, plaque will build up in your mouth which eventually results in a cavity or tooth decay.
The main problem many people have against flossing is the fact that it can result in bleeding of the gums. Anytime you floss and get between your teeth and around your gums, the floss will rub against your gums, resulting in bleeding. Many people take this the wrong way, and immediately stop flossing, usually for good. Bleeding is very common, and should be expected with flossing.
If you have been afraid to try flossing due to the bleeding, you should really get over that fear and floss after you brush. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you will to brush and floss your teeth. Regular checkups with your dentist will help as well, although it is up to you to continue your regular maintenance at home with flossing and brushing. If you floss on a daily basis – you will quickly realize just how clean your teeth and gums will be.
And now, a few different types of floss:
When you look at dental floss, you will notice there are two types – nylon and single filament. You can get nylon either waxed or un-waxed, in several different flavors. Nylon floss is made up of several strands of nylon material, meaning that it can shred, tear, or snag between the teeth if it gets caught on sharp teeth. Even though the single filament floss is more expensive than nylon, it will slide easily between teeth, even tight areas and spaces. Unlike nylon, single filament is impossible to shred or tear.
Whichever type of floss you end up using, the most important thing is to floss every day. If you have never tried flossing before, you will eventually find out how much food and gunk you can remove that brushing missed and your teeth and gums will feel much better.
I had always thought brushing was more important than flossing. At a recent visit to my dentist, he said if he had a choice, he would floss first, then brush. It is really that important to get all the gunk out first that your toothbrush can’t reach.
I hope this article has been chock full of good information for you. Happy flossing!
Want to find out more about teeth whitening and dental procedures? Emil Benjamin writes often for teeth whitening in chicago as well as for dentist glendale california.