Flossing 101: Everything You Need to Know about It

If you’ve ever scheduled an appointment with our dentists here at Dental House, then you’ve probably already been informed about how important flossing is when it comes to maintaining good oral health. However, many people don't actually understand why flossing is important.

While it may seem like a trivial question to ask, it’s something that’s worth looking into given how important this seemingly insignificant task is to your overall dental hygiene. This is why we’ve put together a short breakdown of everything you need to know about flossing. In this article, we hope to provide you with valuable information that will help promote good oral health!

Importance of Flossing

The first point we have to talk about is why flossing is so important. Some people think that simply brushing their teeth is enough to maintain good oral health. And while it is a good place to start, you’ll really have to do more than just brush your teeth if you want to minimize the risk of cavity-causing plaque build-up.

The reason for this is simple: your toothbrush just can’t reach the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Even if you brush your teeth thoroughly, there’s a good chance that you’ll still miss some spots. And while this may not be an immediate problem, it’s something that will eventually catch up with you if you let it go on for too long. Flossing can help remedy this as you’ll be able to reach the spots between your teeth. It’ll help dislodge any food particles that may still be stuck there from your last meal!

How to Floss Properly

Keep in mind that flossing alone isn’t enough as you’ll also want to make sure that you’re doing it properly. The last thing you want to do is to floss improperly, as it can cause your gums to bleed. So, how should you do it?

The first thing you want to do is to break off a piece of floss. An ideal length would be around 18 inches but don’t worry about the length too much as you can easily just eyeball this and go with a length that you’re comfortable with using. Once you’ve snapped off some floss, just hold it between your thumb and index finger and proceed to slide it between your teeth. At the same time, make sure to reach the gum line. Now, the trick here is to follow the curve of your teeth, as trying to force the floss down will cause your gums to bleed. After you feel like you’ve flossed thoroughly, just gently slide it out and repeat the first step.

How Often Should You Floss?

Considering that you brush your teeth twice a day, flossing whenever you brush your teeth is a good place to start. However, it’s important to remember that food particles build up in between your teeth throughout the day. If you really want to take oral hygiene seriously, you can opt to floss after every meal.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has taught you several important points about flossing. Indeed, flossing is one of the most important parts of oral hygiene and should be something that you do on a regular basis. If you have any more questions about this, it would be best to direct them towards your dentist as they can guide you.

If you’re looking for high-quality but affordable dentistry in Ann Arbor, MI, then Dental House is the way to go. We offer a wide array of dental services ranging from restorative dentistry to cosmetic dentistry. If you want to know more about any of these services, visit our site today!