Am I Flossing Correctly?
For most people, flossing is a routine part of life they don't think too much about. While the concept of flossing is pretty simple (pull something between your teeth to dislodge food particles), did you know there is a technique to doing it correctly? Here's what you should know about the dos and don'ts of daily flossing.
Do: Wind the Floss Around Your Fingers
Floss tends to get slippery when it touches your saliva, so it's important to wrap the ends around
your fingers. This will give you more stability as you pull the floss between your teeth.
Don't: Floss Aggressively
It's generally not very hard to remove food particles from your teeth, so don't attack the gums aggressively with your floss. Snapping the floss roughly into the gum pockets can cause injuries and inflammation. Instead, be gentle but firm as you slide the floss around the curve of the tooth as far as it will go.
Do: Floss After Every Meal
The advice to floss just once per day is outdated. Since food particles get stuck between the teeth every time you eat, new floss instructions state that you should floss after each meal.
Don't: Skip Flossing Days
Some people take a break from flossing when they go on vacation, camping, or just because. While it may seem harmless to take a brief break from flossing, keep in mind that when you do,
you allow colonies of bacteria between your teeth and underneath your gum line to grow. As they do, they increase your chance of cavities, oral inflammation, bad breath, and other unpleasantries.
If you like hearing you're "all clear" from cavities when you visit your Knoxville orthodontist, don't neglect to floss.
Do: Use a Waterpik®
A Waterpik® is a useful tool that uses a combination of water pulsations and gentle pressure to clear food debris and plaque from the teeth. It's important to note that the Waterpik® should be used in combination with your regular oral hygiene routine for best results, and should never replace traditional flossing.