To Floss Or Not To Floss? That Is The Question
At Vargas Dental Associates, we are passionate about the state of our patients’ oral health. During routine examinations, we thoroughly inspect and clean your teeth. We act a bit like detectives because we can tell what kinds of foods you might eat and how well you brush your teeth. We still have a number of patients who are diligent in brushing their teeth but fail to understand the importance of flossing every day. Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing your teeth.
Why Floss?
No matter how well you brush your teeth and no matter what kind of toothbrush you use, manual or electric, you are never going to be able to fully clean between your teeth. Using dental floss you are able to reach the food and bacteria that are stuck between the teeth. When that is not removed effectively, it turns into acid and begins to eat away at the enamel of the tooth. This is the reason why some patients experience cavities between their teeth.
How to Floss
Using dental floss properly is a learned behavior, and we have many patients who do not know or understand how to use dental floss correctly. We want to share some helpful tips so you can feel confident about flossing your teeth. It is important not to use rough or jerking motions when flossing so as not to cause trauma to the gums. Most people use too much floss. Here are 3 helpful tips:
- Wrap floss around both middle fingers
- Control a small piece at a time
- Make a C – curve the floss under the gumline of each tooth rather than just up and down
If you are unsure how to properly brush and floss your teeth, we are happy to help! Be sure to mention it during your next appointment, as we can provide a demonstration. Don’t forget that kids need to floss too! While they are not ideal for adults, the floss picks can be helpful in teaching your children the concept of flossing. We do recommend following through with a regular piece of floss to reach the back teeth.
If you are located in Bowie, MD or the surrounding area and are in need of a hygiene examination and cleaning, have further questions about brushing or flossing, or are in need of additional treatments, be sure to contact our office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!
