Why Should I Floss My Teeth?

When we ask our patients, “how do you define good oral hygiene” most come up with the following answer: you should brush your teeth regularly and correctly! That sounds like a correct answer but not a complete one!

What do you think? Is toothbrushing alone enough to have a bright smile, or do we need to put in more effort?

Flossing your teeth is another essential part of good dental hygiene and is defined as cleaning between your teeth using dental floss or interdental brushes.

What Is Plaque?

Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on and around your teeth and makes them susceptible to tooth decay, cavities, Bad Breath, tooth discoloration, and gum disease.

If plaque is not removed with proper daily flossing and brushing, it may build up below the gums and lead to gum disease.

Plaque build-up can seriously damage your teeth and gums and must be removed daily.

Now the question is, “how to remove plaque efficiently?”

Both adults and children should make brushing and flossing major parts of their daily oral health routine to enjoy a plaque-free mouth.

Please remember that they complement each other and are both needed for a beautiful smile.

According to the Australian Dental Association, “Interdental Cleaning” is as important for proper oral health as brushing your teeth.

Flossing your teeth should accompany the regular toothbrushing habit, and neglecting one can lead to dental and general health issues.

Everyone should floss their teeth at least once a day using interdental cleaners like dental floss, interdental brush, waxed floss, dental picks etc.

Flossing once daily with interdental brushes will help dislodge food particles stuck between your teeth and clean your mouth.

If you apply the proper technique and floss correctly, you can floss more than once or twice daily.

The flawless floss technique will help you eliminate the dental plaque on your teeth and along the gum line and improve your oral health.

Make sure you contact your dentist if your teeth bleed while you floss.

You have probably wondered about the order in which you should clean your teeth.

What matters the most is cleaning your teeth correctly, thoroughly, and regularly.

However, it is recommended to floss your teeth first and then brush them. Because flossing will dislodge food particles, it’s better to brush afterward to eliminate the food debris in the mouth.

You can floss whenever is the best time for you and whenever you have enough time to do it properly.

Some people prefer to floss in the morning, clear away food particles, and enjoy a fresher mouth. Others choose to floss their teeth before bedtime and protect their teeth and gums during the night.

What Is the Proper Flossing Technique?

Following proper technique is another crucial factor when it comes to removing plaque using dental floss.

Flossing vigorously or incorrectly or applying too much pressure can cause more harm than good and may bruise delicate gum tissue.

We have provided a step-by-step guide here so that you can receive the maximum benefits of cleaning your teeth with dental floss.

Here are the steps:

1. Break off 30 to 45 cm of your dental floss.
2. Now you need your middle fingers. Try to wind most of the dental floss around the middle finger on each hand. All you need is about 3 to 5 cm of dental floss.
3. Use your thumbs and index fingers and hold the dental floss tautly, ensuring the string floss is tight.
4. Now carefully and gently slide the floss in between two teeth.
5. Now you need a gentle up-and-down motion until the floss reaches the gumline. Avoid snapping the floss on your gums.
6. Try to gently curve the floss to form a C shape against one tooth.
7. Now gently follow a back-and-forth motion until the gap is plaque-free. Try to clean beneath the gumline.
8. Repeat the steps until all the teeth are cleaned.

They were basic tips for flossing correctly; your dentist is the right person to refer to if you need more tips.

You have various options to choose from, and start flossing your teeth based on the space between your teeth and your preferences.

You can see different types of interdental cleaners below:

• Waxed Floss
• Unwaxed Floss
• Dental Tape
• Dental Threaders
• Super Floss
• PTFE Floss
• Water Flosser
• Floss Picks
• Electric Flosser

Orthodontic treatment can correct several tooth misalignment problems and offer you straighter teeth. However, you still need to follow a strict oral health routine if you want a beautiful and healthy mouth.

Some people start neglecting their dental care after they have their dental braces, which can lead to other oral health complications like tooth decay or gum disease.

You can try some tools if you have braces to clean between your teeth and prevent plaque build-up.

Try waxed floss, interdental brush, water flosser, and waxed floss if you wear dental braces, but seek help from your Brisbane Dentist or orthodontist for professional advice.