Flossing 101: A Complete Guide to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
You have been brushing and flossing your whole life, but there’s a possibility that you’re doing it wrong. For instance, many people don’t know that they should be brushing their teeth for at least two minutes. Moreover, some people never floss or even know what it is. This guide lets you know what flossing is and how it keeps your teeth and gums healthy.
What Is Flossing?
Flossing is dislodging and removing food particles left in the spaces between the teeth. It’s an important part of your dental care routine because even with brushing twice daily, you can’t completely clean the spaces between your teeth. The best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is by brushing twice and then flossing once a day.
It’s not just food particles you can remove from the teeth by flossing. You also remove plaque, a sticky film that can cause cavities and gum disease. Plaque has cavity-causing bacteria fed by the food left in your mouth. These bacteria also produce acids that can slowly destroy your teeth’s protective surface, eventually causing tooth decay.
How to Floss Properly
Flossing isn’t complicated. You can follow the steps below to floss correctly:
Break off a piece of dental floss. Keep it about 18 to 24 inches.
Hold it correctly by winding most of the floss around both middle fingers. Leave only about one to two inches for cleaning your teeth.
Hold the floss stretched stiff with your thumbs and index fingers.
Next, put the floss in between your teeth, gliding it up and down and rubbing it against the sides of each tooth, but not into the gums.
When the floss reaches the gums, curve it at the base of the tooth in a C shape to clean the space between the teeth and gums.
Repeat these steps as you clean each tooth using a new section of the floss.
It’s a bit tricky flossing with braces. You must go through the wires to reach the spaces between each tooth. It will take more time, especially if you use regular floss. It is recommended to use waxed floss if you have braces. This way, the floss is less likely to get stuck in the braces and tear. You can also use a floss threader or a water flosser like Waterpik.
Floss Before vs. After Brushing
Besides the action of flossing itself, flossing at the right time also supports good oral health. It’s a common routine for some people to floss after brushing their teeth. However, the general recommendation is to floss before brushing your teeth.
This is better because by flossing, you lift and release the food particles stuck in between your teeth. Once dislodged, you brush them and remove them from your mouth. If you floss after brushing, the plaque and food particles will be stuck until you brush again.
The takeaway is that you must brush and floss to keep your teeth and gums healthy. More than that, you need to brush and floss correctly. In addition, you should visit your dentist regularly for a dental cleaning.
Learn more about proper flossing at Courthouse Art of Dentistry by calling 703-260-9600 or visiting our office in Arlington, Virginia.