What if the best ally of our teeth was dental floss? Although regular visits to your dentist are recommended, home care procedures must be carried out rigorously.
Good oral health is achieved by cleaning your teeth two to three times a day. This regular brushing consists of removing the plaque that accumulates on our teeth after each meal. But this is not enough!
Flossing, a true complement to our toothbrush, is an effective way to preserve our health. It can prevent certain oral problems and even overall health problems. Therefore, its use should not be minimized. The Centre dentaire et d’implantation Boucherville will give you valuable advice on its use.
Why is daily flossing recommended? How should we use it? What are the health benefits of flossing? Let’s take a look at the answers to these queries in this article.
Flossing: The Essential Element for Our Oral Health
What Is Dental Floss?
Usually, dental floss is a very thin synthetic thread. The principle is to slide this thin cord between the teeth to remove bacteria and food particles that cannot be reached with the toothbrush.
When plaque is not removed daily, it forms a thick deposit called “tartar”. The accumulation of this plaque calcification can lead to complications in your gums. An appointment with your dentist on the South Shore will be necessary to remove this layer of impurity.
It is recommended to floss daily. Generally, this action, which precedes tooth brushing, should not last more than three minutes.
If you have braces, flossing is not prohibited. Also, if you have spaced teeth, an interdental brush can be used instead of floss to help clean between the molars.
How to Floss?
To take full advantage of all the benefits and avoid any risks associated with flossing, it is advised to follow a few steps.
Here is the technique to follow:
- Grab a piece of floss about 40 cm long.
- Wrap the floss around your middle fingers and leave 5 cm of floss between your hands. Use your thumbs and index fingers to stretch the floss.
- Slide the floss between two adjacent teeth. Wrap the floss around one of your teeth while forming half-circle under the gum.
- Carefully clean both sides of each tooth by gently scraping the surface from top to bottom. Repeat this process two to three times from the base of the tooth.
- Continue doing this until all food particles trapped between your teeth are removed. Finish by brushing your teeth to make sure that all particles are eliminated.
The Benefits of Flossing
There is a myth that flossing is only useful for removing food debris from between our teeth. This is not true! Flossing has other clear benefits.
In fact, flossing gives us the possibility to fight against tartar accumulation. Its fine size allows us to move it in the interdental spaces, places unreachable for the toothbrush.
It is important to know that tartar is the main cause of cavities. Thus, the floss plays a role of prevention to fight this deposit enemy of our oral health.
Also, the appearance of gum disease is to be feared if your oral hygiene is not taken care of. When plaque accumulates at the base of the teeth, bacteria spread and cause gum inflammation.
Beyond the oral risks, it should be noted that the migration of these bacteria through the bloodstream can occasionally cause more serious complications. The development of cardiovascular disease is a notable danger.
Make An Appointment at Our Dental Care Center
The versatile dental care team at the Centre dentaire et d’implantologie Boucherville can advise you on the best type of dental floss to use.
Book an appointment, come and meet our experienced professionals to keep your mouth healthy. Trust our team of professionals on the South Shore!