Many of our patients are very regimented and thorough about brushing their teeth, but they aren’t quite as diligent about flossing. Well, our Elmhurst dentists are here to remind you that flossing is an important part of your daily oral hygiene routine, and not something to be skipped! In this short article, we’re giving you some simple tips on how to floss to the best of your ability. Take a look at this information, and consider how you may be able to upgrade your regular dental routine.
Let’s begin by talking about when flossing should fit into your routine. In general, the best time to floss is at night, before you brush your teeth. This allows you to dislodge embedded dental debris and plaque, and then promptly brush and rinse it away.
You want to make sure that you floss between all of your teeth—even those in the hard-to-reach spaces in the back of your smile. Move the floss all the way up and down the length of your tooth, taking care to guide the floss gently into your gum tissue.
Make sure that you’re using a clean section of your string of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. Using the same bit of floss can lead you to inadvertently compound the plaque and dental debris.
You may find, if you’re out of the habit of flossing, that your gum tissue is prone to bleeding when you floss. This is normal, and should stop occurring once you get back in the habit of flossing. If, however, you find that your gum tissue continues to bleed for weeks or months after you start flossing again, talk to your dentist, as you may be dealing with periodontal disease.
When you start incorporating flossing into your daily routine, you give your smile its best chance of staying strong and healthy for years to come. As always, you can reach out to our Elmhurst dentists to learn more and to schedule a personal consultation!