Tooth brushing alone is not enough to keep your teeth in optimum health, every dentist will tell you that. Flossing should be part of your daily oral health routine just like brushing.
The Benefits of Flossing to Your Oral Health
The benefits of floss exceed simply having a cleaner mouth. Your toothbrush cannot reach every part of your teeth, flossing gets the spaces between your teeth where hard to reach food debris likes to hide. As a result, flossing helps prevent gum or periodontal diseases, tooth decay, and bad breath.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to get the most out of flossing:
– Floss or use a machine like a dental pick everyday.
– Floss at least once a day, preferably in the evening to completely clear food debris before bed.
– Be gentle when using dental floss so you don’t hurt your gums.
– Floss holders can help if you have difficulty holding on to it with your fingers.
There are many types and ways you can floss:
– Waxed dental floss
– Unwaxed floss
– Interdental cleaners – these are picks and the like
– Water Picks – this is their common name, they are referred to as oral irrigators by dentists
Waxed and unwaxed floss will both clean your teeth effectively but if the spaces are tight, you might find waxed floss more comfortable and easier to use. The important thing is to floss everyday not what brand or type of floss you use, so find one you like and stick with it. If you have trouble finding something you like, ask you dentist for a recommendation. He or she may have samples you can try and at the very least they will point you in the right direction.
Oral irrigators are wonderful tools for getting in between your teeth but they are not as good as floss and most dentists will recommend flossing even if you use one of these machines. The same goes for mouthwash – it is a great addition but does not replace floss. Your average mouthwash is used only to cover up breath odor, but there are some over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinses approved by the ADA that can help prevent decay, and some anti-gingivitis or anti-plaque mouth rinses can help fight periodontal diseases.