Are You Flossing Correctly?

You take care of your teeth. You brush your teeth every day. For two whole minutes. Using a circular motion, with firm, but not aggressive, pressure. You abstain or limit staining foods such as coffee. You take sugar in moderation. You are flossing your teeth properly. Every day. Sound like you? If it doesn’t, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. But if you don’t take care of your teeth with a proper oral health routine, you may end up that way. Without proper care for your oral health, you leave yourself susceptible to dental decay, dental disease, and a host of problems that you may not experience any symptoms until the only course of action is oral reconstruction! To learn a full comprehensive oral health routine, talk to your dentist, but if you’re looking to bolster your flossing technique and learn how to do it correctly, keep reading!

Why Is Flossing Every Day Important? 

It may seem like flossing every day is more of a suggestion than a hard rule etched in stone. After all, flossing a few days a week is probably better than not doing it at all, right? Well, yes and no. Missing a few days here and there will naturally happen; however, not flossing every day can lead you to greater risk of developing oral diseases such as gum disease and tooth decay. This is because the harmful bacteria that lead to these diseases and disorders need only a few hours to begin proliferating and multiplying, the longer they are left unattended, the more compounded the damage they can inflict becomes. Flossing every day prevents the buildup of bacteria and pathogens that would otherwise have a comfortable environment in between your teeth.

What Is The Proper Technique To Flossing? 

The dental floss should be gently slid in between your teeth in an up and down motion. To ensure proper benefit, make sure to go all the way down to the gum line and gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth to get beneath the gum line as well. Make sure to get behind the teeth as well. A helpful tip is to avoid snapping or forcing the floss to prevent bruising or cutting the gums.

Ready To Learn More About Dental Hygiene? 

If you’re ready to learn even more about dental hygiene and flossing and get on track to the best smile you’ve ever had, give Dr. Samuel Jirik a call today at 501-843-9561!