We have heard every excuse in the book of not flossing... I ran out of floss, I was too tired, I always forget, I don't like flossing, it makes my gums bleed or it hurts! Did you know the more often you floss, the less it will hurt and the less your gums will bleed? Plaque is made up of saliva, leftover food and harmful bacteria... yes, thousands of bacteria that create an infection in your mouth. Your body sends blood to your gums to fight the infection. If bacteria enters your blood stream it can, travel to your heart, (increasing your chances of heart disease), compromise your immune system or cause inflammation in the lining of your heart. Therefore, the healthier your gums are, the less they will bleed and the healthier your body is as a whole.
So why do we have to floss? If you had to make a choice between brushing or flossing, FLOSS! Yes, you heard right.. FLOSS! The bacteria in-between your teeth can cause far more damage than the plaque that builds up on the front and back surfaces of your teeth. Your tongue, food and saliva help to remove most of what builds up on these surfaces. During brushing, the bristles are too large to reach between your teeth and below your gums. The food that gets caught in-between your teeth stays there until removed from floss or any type of floss pick. This plaque then hardens from the minerals in your saliva and turns into calculus (tartar). At this point, Periodontal Disease can progress causing several more health problems.
 |
| Dental Plaque |
What is the proper technique of flossing? The most important part of the technique is wrapping the floss around each tooth and scrubbing up and down several times. Some people may be flossing every day but not spending enough time or doing it properly. Follow these step-by-step instructions!
If you are still confused and not sure how to floss, this video does a great job with the technique suggested above.
Do I need to floss before or after I brush? This is a frequent question! The most important thing about flossing is just to do it. If you have a hard time remembering to floss before bed and are in a huge rush in the morning, then do it after lunch, or as soon as you get to work or put the kids down for naps. Whenever is most convenient for you! You do not need to brush and floss at the same time if you have are having a hard time doing both together.
If you find flossing too difficult, consider a different flossing method. There are several flossing aids that can help! Ask your Dental Hygienist which flossing aid would be right for you. It could be that you need to try a different kind of dental floss- stick with it and you will have adapted a healthy habit for life!
-A Healthy Body Starts With a Healthy Smile-
