Why Flossing Is Important and Proper Techniques To Use

Your dentist and your parents have probably done an excellent job of reminding you to brush your teeth every day.

But have they explained why flossing is important?

You may think you've done a good enough job by brushing twice a day, but skipping out on flossing can cause more harm than you think.

Why Flossing is Important

We brush our teeth to eliminate those sticky or fuzzy "teeth" sweaters on our enamel. That stickiness is tooth plaque, which builds up throughout the day due to bacteria, the food you eat, and even the environment you're in.

By now, we all know it's standard to brush twice a day for at least two minutes to get rid of daily plaque effectively.

So what happens when you don't floss?

Flossing helps you get in those hard-to-reach areas. When you skip flossing, you leave some of that plaque and bacteria in your mouth. And when plaque hardens, it becomes tartar (a.k.a dental calculus) which can cause yellow teeth, bad breath, and gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis leads to periodontitis and this is when your body starts loosing healthy bone structure around your teeth. Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease and it requires more invasive treatment than a basic cleaning. Your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning or a gum surgery.

Here are 5 good reasons why you should floss daily:

1. It prevents gum disease

Gingivitis is the earliest sign of gum disease. Luckily, you can usually reverse it with an updated oral hygiene routine.

This includes — you guessed it— flossing.

Gum disease happens as a result of bad oral hygiene. Your dentist will diagnose you if they see significant tartar buildup above and below your gum line. You may also be experiencing:

Bleeding gums when flossing
Hot/cold sensitivity
Swollen/red gums

Flossing properly (and regularly) ensures that you're getting that plaque out from in between your teeth before it can turn into gingivitis.

2. Reduces your chance of getting heart disease

Ongoing studies support the idea that your oral health directly ties to your heart health.

How are they related? According to Harvard Health, "The bacteria that infect the gums and cause gingivitis and periodontitis also travel to blood vessels elsewhere in the body where they cause blood vessel inflammation and damage; tiny blood clots, heart attack and stroke may follow."

So basically, lack of flossing leads to gum disease, which (over time) can lead to heart complications.

3. Flossing gets rid of bad breath

Think of how much you sweat after going to the gym. If you don't take a shower, you'll stink all day, right?

The same goes for brushing and flossing. Without both of them, you can develop terrible breath.

So do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and remember to floss that bacteria and plaque buildup from in between your teeth!

Types of Floss You Should Use

Now that you know why flossing is important, what type of floss should you be using?

Here are our suggestions!

1. Standard Floss

Typical wax floss is made of nylon fibers and is highly durable. That's why dentists and hygienists still use it during your cleanings!

While they're great for removing plaque along the gum line, some people find that this type of floss is prone to breakage and is a little challenging to use.

2. Floss Toothpicks

These plastic handheld devices have a single string of floss strapped to the curved end. These are becoming increasingly popular because they're easy to use and portable.

However, they aren't as flexible as traditional floss, so you may not be getting all the plaque near your gums.

3. Waterpik

At-home water flossers can be beneficial for those who don't enjoy flossing. A Waterpik can still get the plaque from between your teeth and gums, saving you from using standard floss, which can feel harsh.

Unfortunately, these devices aren't as effective as string floss. The best solution is to combine a Waterpik with one of the options above.

Proper Flossing Technique

Your dentist and dental hygienist are a great source of education regarding flossing. But until your next appointment, here is the proper flossing technique most will recommend:

Step 1: Using string floss or a floss toothpick, floss in between the teeth using a zig-zag motion.
Step 2: Curve around each tooth in a letter 'C' shape to get plaque along the gums.
Step 3: Floss the backside of each tooth

If you're using a floss pick, you may want to rinse it after each tooth since there will be debris on the string. With traditional floss, make sure you have at least 18 inches of floss so that you can use a new section for each tooth.

Which type of floss will you be using?

For more information on dental hygiene please call Downtown Dentist SF at 415-982-2250 to schedule your dental appointment!

dental, dental pain, aesthetic dentistryStefka Petrova DDSApril 19, 2022Downtown Dentist SFflossing, gum disease, bleeding gums, bone and gum disease, best floss, healthy teeth, bad breath, healthy gums