Flossing is one of the easiest ways to prevent cavities and gum disease, and is so easy to do, but so many people don’t do it. Maybe one reason why you don’t floss is that you were never taught how to do it properly. To help you learn how simple it is, here are four tips on how to floss:
- Get 18 inches of dental floss and wrap it around your index fingers: If you have less dental floss than that you won’t have a new section for every tooth and might be tempted to reuse the floss, which can easily spread bacteria instead of taking it away.
- Make sure you dip the floss below your gum line: As you floss, hold the floss between your thumbs and index fingers and slide it between your teeth, and down into your gum line. Many people miss flossing into the gums, but this is vital if you want to remove the debris that can cause gum disease.
- Never force the floss or move it harshly:Forcing the floss between your teeth might bruise your gum tissue. If you have any problems flossing your teeth, make a dental appointment.
- Rinse with water: After flossing, it’s important to rinse out your mouth with water to remove any debris that might have fallen while you were flossing. This helps prevent any tooth decaying bacteria from remaining in your mouth.
If you would like to learn more about flossing or need to make a dental appointment, contact the friendly, experienced dentists at the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today and set-up your appointment.