Your oral hygiene routine is important, and when you develop yours you have to tackle every part of it equally. Brushing is great, and using mouthwash is important, but don’t forget to floss. They all work together to stave off cavities and prevent gum disease. The more proactive you are with your dental hygiene routine, the less time you will need to spend in a dentist’s chair.
What Is Floss?
Floss is a cord or string that is used to remove plaque and food debris from between your teeth. It comes in the form of thread, waxed, unwaxed, and tape, and you can even get different flavours (or unflavoured). There are also flossing aids, like sticks that can help you get those difficult-to-reach spots if you have tighter teeth to work with.
Why Is Floss An Important Part Of Your Oral Hygiene Routine?
Flossing helps you remove food debris and plaque from both between your teeth and around the gum line. It improves your breath, protects your enamel, and reduces the likelihood of cavities, puffiness, red gums, and soreness. Flossing also helps prevent gingivitis.
You should make time to floss at least once a day, bedtime is the best time to create this routine. You have more time to take care of it then and it’s easier to create a healthy oral hygiene routine as part of your bedtime routine. You should always floss before you brush because this helps loosen debris then you can further remove it with your toothbrush.
What Happens If You Don’t Floss?
There are more things to worry about than bad breath, though that is one of the outcomes of not flossing. Bad breath is often the result of something bigger, like debris stuck between your teeth, which can result in plaque and tartar buildup that will eventually lead to gum disease. First comes gingivitis, then comes damage to your gums and teeth that can lead to bone loss.
Gum disease can contribute to tooth loss. When your gums start to recede, which is a common outcome of a lack of flossing, your teeth start to loosen. They can fall out, but they may reach a point where your dentist needs to remove them. Regular flossing tackles the plaque and bacteria that put your oral hygiene at risk.
How Can Your Dentist Tell If You Haven’t Been Flossing?
If like most people, you start flossing right before your appointment, that’s great. But how can they always tell that you haven’t been flossing religiously? There’s a reason your dentist will give your teeth a floss at your appointment, and it’s to see if your gums bleed. A lack of flossing is the only reason for bleeding gums, but it’s a common issue. Other reasons include gingivitis.
If you have bleeding gums, whether it’s because of gingivitis or a lack of flossing, it can take a week or so of regular flossing for inflammation to reduce and bleeding to stop. So, a lot of people will floss once or twice, bleed, and give up. You have to stick with it, and once you do, you will see a difference. And for the people who started flossing right before their next appointment, it shows in your gums the moment you open your mouth.
How Aesthetic Dental & Denture Clinic Can Help
If you take proper care of it, your smile will last a lifetime. It begins with building healthy hygiene habits. So, start your bedtime routine five minutes early and find a floss that works for you. If you don’t like traditional floss or struggle to get it in and back out, try the sticks. They come in a variety of sizes and they can simplify the process. Finish by brushing and using mouthwash.
Whether you need to visit your Camden dentist for a standard dental health appointment or you need an emergency dentist, get in touch with us to schedule an appointment. You can visit one of our dental hygienists, discuss whether you’re the right candidate for dental veneers, or get a quote for the cost of dental implants. We proudly offer AfterPay Dental so you can get the treatment you need now and worry about paying later.
