The Benefits of Flossing and How to Do It Correctly

Flossing can be addictive in a positive way. This positive addiction happens because flossing for those who’ve developed the habit feels “almost like a massage”. But there are more benefits to flossing your teeth, especially if you do it correctly. Here’s what it does to boost your oral health and more.

Removes Food Particles Between Teeth

Flossing helps remove food particles between your teeth and along the gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach. An unchecked buildup of these particles can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

Prevents Plaque and Gingivitis

The leftover food particles between your teeth and your saliva mix in your mouth to form plaque. Flossing regularly helps rid of plaque that can cause gingivitis. This condition indicates the onset of gum disease. Your gums turn red and swell, becoming irritated and bloodied with toothbrushing.

Promotes Fresh Breath

Food particles left in your gums and teeth breed bacteria producing a bad odor and causing gum disease. Flossing prevents this bacteria buildup, which causes not only bad breath but also a bad taste in your mouth.

Helps Brighten Your Smile

Your teeth look whiter after flossing, helping bring that winsome smile. Unchecked plaque and tartar buildup cause your teeth to get stained easily. Flossing removes the staining pigments, thus making your teeth look whiter.

Avoids Painful and Costly Dental Procedures

Tooth decay and gum disease can be prevented with flossing as part of your oral hygiene. In the long run, it can help you avoid dental procedures that are not only painful but also expensive.

Improves Overall Health

Flossing contributes to good oral health, a factor in reducing other health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

How-to Tips on the Art of Flossing

You can gain the most benefits out of flossing if you develop this habit correctly. Research showed that more lasting health benefits can be achieved if you floss before brushing your teeth. The American Dental Association also recommends flossing once a day.

Then there’s this matter of choosing the right kind of floss for you. Dental floss isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. There are many types of floss available on the market. Your choice will largely depend on the spacing and size of your teeth or the floss you’re most comfortable using.

Simple Flossing Steps to Follow

After choosing the floss, the steps on the correct way of flossing are pretty straightforward:

Floss in front of a mirror to see your open mouth.
Use floss 18-20 inches long and wrap each end around your middle fingers.
Wrap the floss to a C shape on a target tooth and slide it gently under the gumline.
Repeat the back-and-forth motion of flossing on each tooth, including the molars.
Use on each tooth a fresh section of floss to avoid bacteria spreading from one tooth to another.
Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after flossing to remove the loosened food particles.
Dispose of the used floss in the trash bin; don’t flush it in the toilet.

Final Tip

The way to excellent oral health, however, doesn’t end in flossing. You also need professional help from experts like Glacier Dental in Anchorage, Alaska. Call (907) 222-6000 to schedule an appointment.