Maintenance of good oral hygiene is important for dental as well as overall well-being. Flossing is a decisive part of any dental hygiene routine. While brushing is a known and routinely followed practice, flossing often gets ignored. However, flossing plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy oral cavity. Whether you floss before or after brushing, it is an essential process. Read on to learn of the benefits of teeth flossing.
Here are five reasons why you should start flossing for good oral health.
Plaque Removal and Prevents Calculus
Plaque is a thin covering of bacteria that sticks to the teeth and gums. It accumulates after eating and drinking. If not removed well, this film hardens and forms calculus, which can only be removed by professional scaling. Flossing efficiently reaches the areas that are inaccessible to the toothbrush, such as between the teeth and below the gum line. Flossing removes plaque from difficult-to-reach spaces and prevents calculus formation. Less plaque formation decreases the risk of dental decay and gum infection.
Decreased Risk of Gum Disease
Gum or periodontal infection is a common but serious infection. It is an infection of the gums and bone around your teeth that starts with gingivitis, which presents as red, swollen, and bleeding gums. If not treated on time, it develops into periodontitis, causing tooth loss. Flossing prevents gum disease. It gets rid of food and plaque lodged between the teeth and beneath the gums, keeping the gums healthy and preventing the spread of gum disease.
Prevention of Bad Breath
Halitosis (bad breath) occurs when food particles and bacteria accumulate between the teeth and gums. The food particles decompose and release foul-smelling sulfur compounds. Flossing removes the food particles and decreases the bacteria in the mouth. Regular flossing, brushing, and mouthwash are used to maintain fresh breath.
Better Overall Health
Poor oral hygiene causes serious general health problems, like heart conditions, diabetes, and even respiratory infections. The mouth’s bacteria can come in contact with the blood vessels and spread infection to other body parts. Daily flossing reduces the bacterial load in your mouth and prevents systemic diseases. Good oral hygiene should include daily flossing.
Effective Brushing
Brushing teeth is not adequate to maintain oral health. Flossing is an add-on to brushing that cleans areas that toothbrushes cannot reach. When you floss before brushing, you remove the layer of plaque, thereby easing the process of cleaning your teeth thoroughly. If you prefer to floss after brushing, you remove leftover debris and plaque that the toothbrush tends to miss.
Tips for Effective Flossing
To gain adequate benefits from teeth flossing, it’s important to floss correctly. Here are some tips to help you floss effectively:
- Using the Right Length of Floss: Use an18 inch-long piece of floss. This length is ideal for flossing all the teeth sectionwise.
- Gripping the Floss Properly: Wrap the ends of the floss around your middle fingers, leaving 1-2 inches of floss to work with.
- Sliding the Floss Between Your Teeth: Avoid snapping the floss into the gums. Gently slide between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion.
- Curve the Floss Around Every Tooth: As the floss reaches the gum, bend it into a C-shape around the neighboring tooth. Move it up and down along the margins of the tooth. Follow this process for each tooth.
- Use the Clean Part of the Floss: As you move to the next tooth, use a clean part of the floss to avoid cross-infection of plaque and bacteria.
Choosing Between Flossing Before or After Brushing
Whether to floss or brush first is a debated topic. Ultimately, it is important to floss daily without considering the before or after. However, there are some benefits of teeth flossing in both instances:
- Flossing before brushing allows the easy removal of food and plaque, making it easier for the toothbrush to clean teeth efficiently. Studies suggest that flossing before brushing reduces plaque and infection in the gums.
- Flossing after brushing removes any food debris and plaque that may have been missed while brushing. The oral cavity feels clean and fresh. Adding fluoride toothpaste for brushing distributes fluoride between teeth and provides protection.
Conclusion
Flossing is an inseparable part of a good oral hygiene routine and overall health. Whether you choose to floss first or brush first, it is important to keep flossing a consistent part of your daily oral hygiene routine.
The benefits of flossing include adequate removal of plaque around teeth and dental crowns, prevention of gum disease, and bad breath. Proper flossing techniques are also important. Consult your dentist with any queries or concerns about the ideal oral hygiene routine for your specific oral health condition. Your smile and overall health will benefit greatly from personalized advice and care.
At Le Sueur Family Dental, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive support for oral hygiene maintenance. Our team of diagnostic experts can help you formulate an appropriate care routine and keep up with dental scalings and polishings for overall health.
Contact us or schedule an appointment today!
