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Did you know that brushing your teeth simply isn’t enough to protect your oral health? Read on to learn how to floss and why flossing is so important for your teeth and gums.
Do you typically skip over flossing since brushing your teeth seems like enough to take care of your teeth? Well, if so, you’re not alone. One study reported that 20% of people living in the United States say they never floss their teeth.
However, flossing is an essential part of a healthy oral hygiene routine and is especially important when you have braces or clear aligners.
Our experienced orthodontist, Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, and the rest of our team at Hanachi Orthodontics in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, want you to know how flossing protects the health of your teeth and gums. Read on for some tips on flossing.
How flossing boosts your oral health
Brushing your teeth is a great step in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. However, this daily practice can only remove leftover food and other debris from the outer portions of your teeth, it can’t get in between each tooth. This is where flossing comes in.
Flossing gets between each tooth and removes a sticky substance called plaque, which can lead to tooth decay if left unchecked. When plaque is allowed to build up, it hardens and turns into tartar – a substance that causes gum disease and can only be removed by a medical professional.
If you have braces, the buildup of plaque can be even harder to remove since it likes to hide and grow behind all your brackets and wires. This is why consistently combining flossing and brushing is so vital for your oral health.
How to floss properly
While attempting to floss is better than not flossing at all, here are some guidelines for making the most of this oral hygiene habit:
Do it every day
This is the most important takeaway for flossing. Missing even one day gives bacteria and other substances the opportunity to accumulate and wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. Flossing once a day is enough, and you should always floss your teeth before you brush in order to lift out particles that your toothbrush can remove.
Floss gently
Make sure you don’t jam floss in between your teeth since this can irritate your gums, making them bruise and bleed. Instead, gently place the floss in between your teeth and curve the floss into a C shape. Then slowly glide the floss back and forth until you reach the gum tissue.
Don’t forget your molars
Plaque can build up anywhere in your mouth, and your molars are no exception. Don’t simply stop flossing once you reach those back teeth. Hold the floss in the C shape and use gentle motion to remove harmful plaque and bacteria from your molars.
Adapt for braces
When you have braces — or even clear aligners —, bacteria and plaque can build up in the hardware, putting you at greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease. You don’t need to do anything differently technique-wise for clear aligners, just be consistent with your oral hygiene.
If you have braces, you can still floss like normal; however, it may take a little longer to go around all the brackets and wires. Make sure you’re extra gentle to avoid breaking any hardware and try to use wax floss to make the process a little easier for you.
To learn more about how to care for your teeth, schedule an appointment with our team by calling your nearest office location or using our online booking feature today.