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Are you one of those people who never floss? Whether it’s because you don’t know the proper technique, or maybe because you think you’ll hurt your gums, today we’ll give you 5 reasons to stop making excuses to floss every day to have healthy teeth. Let’s get started!
Brushing does not remove all food debris
Especially if your teeth are not well aligned, food remains accumulated between the teeth and, unfortunately, tooth brushing is not enough in order to remove leftovers.
When food remains accumulated, plaque is formed, which, as its name suggests, contains millions of bacteria that cause problems such as cavities. For this reason, flossing in the interdental areas and along the gum line is important to remove plaque.
Leftovers cause bad breath
Have you noticed that your breath is not very pleasant, even if you brush your teeth? Halitosis is difficult for the affected person to detect, but you may notice that people around you discreetly move away when you speak, or offer you gum or candy very frequently.
Bad breath main cause is the leftovers accumulation in the mouth because, as we mentioned, they give rise to bacterial plaque, and bacteria cause bad smell. So flossing will prevent these bacteria from developing and help your breath smell good.
To achieve a better effect on your breath, brush your teeth, floss and use an antiseptic mouthwash to finish, in addition to drinking plenty of plain water and eating a healthy diet.
Gum Disease Prevention
Flossing not only protects your teeth, but also your gums! If you notice bleeding when brushing, or tooth sensitivity when drinking cold drinks, your gums are probably suffering from the acid attack of bacteria.
The use of dental floss will help you prevent gingivitis, periodontitis and, consequently, prevent tooth loss. Bacterial plaque not only accumulates on the teeth, it also moves to the gums and this can lead to edentulism, so it is also recommended to floss the interdental line.
A damaged tooth, damages the others
Tooth decay may seem like a minor condition, but it’s actually one of the worst things that can happen to your teeth. When a cavity occurs, it not only affects one tooth, it can also spread to the neighbor because the plaque trapped in the interdental space affects the two teeth between which it is located.
It won’t take you more than 5 minutes
If you use the lack of time to floss as an excuse, you should know that it will not take more than 5 minutes, along with brushing. The first few times it will probably be a bit difficult, but over time you will get used to it and it will only take a few seconds to floss through each tooth.
How to floss?
First, choose the floss of your choice. In shopping malls you will find two types: nylon or multifilament, or PTFE or monofilament. Nylon dental floss can be waxed and flavored. It is made up of multiple strands of nylon so it sometimes tears or frays between teeth with tight contact points. For its part, the thread of a filament slides easier between the teeth and does not fray.
Take about 18 inches (45 cm) of floss and roll and wrap most of it around your ring finger, about 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) apart. Hold the floss between your thumb and forefinger and gently slide it up and down between your teeth. Curl the floss around the base of each tooth in a C-shape against the tooth and gently slide it between the gum and the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth and remove the floss with gentle movements. Pass the floss through all the teeth.
Never hit or pull the floss hard, as you could cut or damage the gum tissue. You should also not use dirty or frayed sections of floss as this could carry bacteria into your mouth. Once you’re done using it, throw it away.
If this little guide is not enough for you to learn how to floss, make an appointment with your Dentist in Tijuana to teach you how to use the correct technique to help you maintain good dental health.
At The Dental District we are a dental clinic in Tijuana and we have the specialists you need for you treatment such as dental braces in Tijuana. Contact us through the contact form for more information about invisible orthodontics in Tijuana, Dental implants in Tijuana or endodontics in Tijuana. We will gladly assist you!