Besides using a toothbrush to clean your teeth, flossing is one of the most important steps in your regimen of oral care. If you’re not sure why flossing can help in your preventative dental hygiene program, below are some of the benefits of flossing:
- Helps remove and prevent the buildup of plaque, which leads to tartar. Removing plaque and excess food particles can help your teeth look brighter.
- Helps prevent periodontal disease and reduce the risks of developing heart disease by decreasing the levels of inflammatory substances in the blood, reducing the likelihood of blood clots that slow blood flow to the heart.
- Helps to prevent tooth decay and the development of gum disease
- Helps you to regularly check your teeth, tongue, and gums for signs of redness, swelling, or lesions
- Helps clean the small spaces between your teeth that you are unable to clean completely with a toothbrush
- Helps to prevent bad breath by removing the food that is caught between your teeth
- Helps improve the health of your digestive tract by preventing bacteria from being distributed throughout your body
Brushing alone may not prevent you from developing gum disease and tooth loss. If you have sensitive or bleeding gums you may think you should avoid flossing because it may aggravate your condition. Instead, flossing helps improve the health of your gums and helps prevent them from bleeding.
Flossing Alternatives
Standard dental floss is not the only effective product for flossing your teeth. Flossing options include:
- If you have sensitive teeth and gums, select a soft floss that glides easily between your teeth
- If you have braces, use a specialized floss, with a stiff end, that can be threaded between the main wires of your braces and a softer end that slides between your teeth
- Electric flossers are available for those who find flossing difficult. It can provide the right amount of pressure that leaves your gums stimulated.
- Dental picks are single-use flossers that have floss attached to a plastic handle. You don’t have to thread the floss between your fingers.
- An interdental brush is similar to a small toothbrush. They make cleaning the difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth easier.
Develop a Good Oral Care Routine
Make it a habit to develop and maintain a good oral care routine that includes:
- Cleaning between your teeth once a day using floss, a flossing device, or an interdental brush
- Brushing your teeth, for at least two minutes twice a day, with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste
- Choosing a diet that’s balanced with fruits and vegetables and is low in sugar or acid food and drink
- Visit your dentists at Shine Dental regularly
If you haven’t seen us for some time or would like to learn more about the best way to floss your teeth, please contact us to schedule an appointment or you can call us at 516-226-9853. The dentists at Shine Dental Group will discuss your dental history and examine your teeth and help you develop a route for proper oral care.
