A Guide to Flossing Your Teeth
Tooth brushing is not enough if you want to maintain good oral hygiene over a long period of time It’s vital that part of your daily routine involves flossing. Yes, cleaning between your teeth is just as important to your oral health as thoroughly brushing the surfaces of your teeth.
Just think about it this way. When you clean your home, you use a multitude of cleaning products and tools, so of course you should expect the same when taking care of your oral hygiene. Even your vacuum has multiple attachments to ensure that you get the job done right. The same can be said for your teeth, you need an additional attachment that can reach the nooks and crannies that your toothbrush just can’t get to. That’s what tooth floss is for, it gets in to take care of what your brush can’t reach.
The Benefits of Flossing
There are plenty of benefits to regularly flossing, as it clears debris, thus removing plaque and preventing the build-up of bacteria. This prevents bad breath, tooth decay, and periodontal diseases.
If you want to get the best from your flossing routine, keep this in mind:
-If you struggle with holding your tooth floss, opt for a floss holder.
-Use floss on a daily basis.
-Ensure that you floss at least once every day.
-Floss gently, if you’re too rough you can damage the gum tissue.
A Variety of Products
There are a wide variety of dental cleaning tools on offer in drugstores everywhere, including:
-Un-waxed dental floss
-Waxed dental floss
-Mouthwash
-Oral irrigators, which rely on water to remove the bacteria and plaque build-up between your teeth
-Interdental aids, such as special sticks and picks.
Whether you opt for waxed or un-waxed floss, both are effective at getting into the gaps between your teeth. Waxed floss makes the job easier, so if your teeth are particularly difficult then you may want to choose waxed. What is most important, though, is ensuring that you floss every day, rather than the type of floss that you choose to get the job done. Provided your floss slips into your teeth easily, doesn’t hurt, or damage your gums, then it’s the floss for you. Feel free to ask your dentist for samples and recommendations, though.
For people with vision problems, arthritis, a floss holder may be the best option for you. Just ensure that you follow the instructions, or speak to your dentist on how to use the tool properly. It’s important that you don’t injure your gums.
An oral irrigator is a great way to help you remove any food that has gotten caught in your teeth. However, it should not replace tooth brushing or dental floss. Equally, mouthwash doesn’t replace standard oral hygiene. They simply form part of an effective oral hygiene routine. Mouth wash is also a great way to improve your breath, fight gingivitis, plaque, decay, and fight gum disease.