1. Floss once a day
You don’t necessarily need to floss multiple times a day. It’s about quality and not quantity. One thorough flossing session a day is going to make all the difference with your dental hygiene, whereas a few times a day done in a rush could have little to no impact.
2. There is no best time of day to floss
The best time is whenever you have enough time to do it well. Ideally, it is recommended you do it before going to sleep at night. The reason for this, is that when we sleep, the flow of saliva from our salivary glands decreases, minimizing the benefits it has against fighting bacteria.
3. Mouthwash can’t replace flossing
Whilst a common myth is that mouthwash has the same effect of flossing on your teeth; this is very far from the truth. Thorough flossing cannot be replaced by using mouthwash.
4. Choose the right floss for your teeth
There is no wrong choice here. However, here are some suggestions:
- If you have big spaces between your teeth, floss that is almost yarn-like could be easiest for you to use.
- If you have tighter spaces between your teeth, you may want to try waxed flosses.
5. Be careful of bleeding
If there are areas that bleed, be cautious of them. However, you still need to floss them, since lack of regular flossing may be the reason they are bleeding or tender.
6. Floss BEFORE brushing your teeth
Although it doesn’t always make a significant difference, it is recommended that you floss before brushing, as supposed to the opposite. This is to loosen debris and brush plaque away before brushing your teeth.
7. No need for the saw movement
You don’t need to floss back and forth in a sawing movement. Doing so can cause gum tissue trauma and bleeding. Instead, move the floss up and down between each tooth.
8. Make sure to clean all the right spots
It is important to spend time flossing so that you get all your teeth. But also be sure to clean the area beneath the gum line, but also, avoid snapping the floss on the gums.
Flossing is one of the most important parts of dental hygiene; it is both beneficial for your gums and teeth. If you are worried about your oral and dental hygiene, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
