The Best Way to Floss Your Teeth

Flossing is essential to maintaining good oral health. Flossing is a type of oral hygiene that involves cleaning between the teeth that are closely spaced or in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach. It helps to remove food particles and plaque buildup between teeth. Flossing also helps to prevent gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. Daily flossing helps to remove plaque buildup from food particles between brushings. It can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss. Visit the Center for Advanced Dentistry, for the best dental care tailored to your specific needs.

Importance of Flossing

While brushing your teeth is essential to dental health, you must also floss your teeth. Flossing helps to remove plaque from between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot remove. Plaque can harden into tartar if it is not removed daily. Once this tartar forms, removing it without a professional cleaning becomes very difficult. This can lead to cavities forming underneath the gum line, which can become very painful if they are not treated immediately. Therefore, taking the proper steps to keep this from happening to you is essential.

In addition to removing plaque and tartar buildup, flossing also improves the health of your gums by removing any food particles that may be stuck there and causing inflammation. This can help you avoid developing gingivitis or gum disease. Finally, flossing can also help freshen your breath by removing bacteria and food particles that can lead to bad breath.

The Procedure for Flossing

You should floss your teeth once daily, preferably in the evening before bed. This ensures that food particles and bacteria aren’t allowed to linger in your mouth overnight and that you can remove plaque buildup between teeth. Your floss should be placed at a 45-degree angle to the gums and gently moved back and forth along the tooth's surface. It is essential to clean all parts of the tooth, including below the gum line, as this will help prevent gum disease. The floss should wrap around the tooth surface and slide gently underneath the gum line. 

When flossing is combined with regular cleanings every six months, it can help to prevent gingivitis and other oral conditions. Flossing can be challenging to master, so it is best to practice with a patient and qualified dentist or hygienist who can help demonstrate the proper technique for you. 

If you’re looking for an experienced and compassionate dentist to help you maintain your oral health, visit the Center for Advanced Dentistry at 105 N. Bascom Ave, Suite 201, San Jose 95128, or call (408) 549-7133.