In our last post we addressed recently emerging opinions that challenge the effectiveness and necessity of flossing. But is there a right way to floss your teeth? You’ve come to the right place to find the answer! As a family dental practice in Flagstaff, at Country Club Dental we stress the importance of flossing—starting at age three, on up to age 103. Not only is flossing helpful in removing any food particles that get lodged between the teeth and lead to tooth decay; when you properly floss your teeth on a daily basis it can efficiently rid the teeth and gums of harmful bacteria that cause plaque and lead to gum disease.
Healthy Gums
Your gums are simply connective tissue covered with mucous membrane that attach to the necks of your teeth and the alveolar bone. They play an important role in holding everything in place. When your gums begin to deteriorate or undergo disease, the attachment site of your tooth is put at risk. Healthy gums, or gingivae, appear pink and firm and should have a limited sensibility to pain. Swollen, red, or bleeding gums are a sign of potential gum disease.
One more important thing about your gums: there is a tiny 1-2 mm pocket of space surrounding the visible part of the tooth and the gumline. It is here where most inflammation and gum disease begin to occur. The good news is, with proper brushing and flossing, you can easily keep the gumline free of plaque and other substances that lead to gum disease.
Steps to Properly Floss Your Teeth
Properly flossing your teeth is simple and should only take a few minutes to complete. The most challenging part of flossing the teeth is simply remembering to do it! Once the habit is formed, your gums and teeth will be so grateful, you won’t forget! Here are the basic steps to properly floss your teeth:
- Dispense about 18-inches of floss (ask your dentist if you are uncertain of the best floss for your teeth). Wind most of the floss around each middle finger. Leave about an inch or two of floss to actively work with.
- Firmly hold the floss between your pointer fingers and thumbs.
- Guide the floss between the teeth with a gentle back and forth motion. We recommend always starting with the same tooth for the sake of habit. Resist forcefully snapping the floss between the teeth, which could bruise or cut your gums. If you have tighter spaces between your teeth, there are floss products made specifically to help you navigate those narrow spaces.
- Slide the floss up and down along the straight edges between the teeth to clean out any debris.
- Gently curve the floss along the base of each tooth, making sure to clear out that 1-2 mm pocket at around the gumline.
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. And don’t forget to floss the back edge of each one of your back molars!
- Remove the floss by using the same gentle back and forth motion you used to help guide the floss out from between the teeth.
At Country Club Dental Flagstaff, we recommend flossing at night before your final brushing of the day. However, what is important is that you properly floss your teeth at least once daily. If flossing in the morning works best in your daily routine, then do it in the morning. And consider leaving a pack of floss in your car, bag, or in your desk at work, in case you forget or you get something stuck between your teeth during the day. Finally, our Dental Savings Club can make visiting the dentist affordable for the whole family. So schedule your dental work or biannual cleaning today!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash (1/29/2019)
