When you floss correctly and regularly you help your smile to combat plaque buildup, thus lowering your risk of suffering from cavities and gum disease. If you fallen out of the habit of flossing regularly, our Saint Louis dentists are here to help you get back on track! Keep reading to get some tips on how to floss the right way!
The first key to a good flossing routine is regularity. Because plaque is always building up on your smile, you really need to floss every day in order to minimize the amount of plaque that can accumulate on your smile.
The type of floss that you use is up to you—just make sure that you choose a type of floss that fits between all of your teeth, and allows you to move the floss all the way up and down as you move from tooth to tooth. The flavor is up to you!
There are few things that you can do in terms of technique in order to increase the effectiveness of your flossing routine:
· When you begin flossing tear off a long strip of floss. Then move down this long piece of floss as you go from tooth to tooth, so you are always using a fresh and clean portion of floss.
· Move the floss from side to side as well as vertically as you clean between teeth—this helps to dislodge as much plaque as possible.
· When flossing, gently guide the floss down into your gum tissue in order to clean near the root of your tooth.
· The best time to floss is at night right before you brush your teeth—give your smile a clean slate before you go to bed!
Our Saint Louis dentists are here to answer any question that you may have about flossing, or at-home oral hygiene in general. Give us a call to get started!