Want Clean, Healthy Teeth? Then Remember That Floss is Boss!

The next time you think, “I will floss tomorrow,” or the kids say, “We promise to floss in the morning,” you might want to revisit your oral healthcare strategy.

While brushing removes surface plaque, it misses up to 40 percent of plaque that decides to hide between your teeth! This is worrisome because plaque buildup cannot only lead up to tooth decay, but it can also lead to gum disease, which is linked to over 200 other diseases.

Do not skip flossing for yourself or especially for your children. Flossing is by far the most effective way to remove plaque and junk stuck between your teeth. There are a couple ways of doing this correctly; the first way is to use a strand of floss and the second is to use floss picks. Our dentist in Chicagoland has given some great advice for flossing correctly.

If you use a strand of floss, then grab about 18 inches of floss, then wind the majority of the floss around your middle finger on one of your hands and wrap the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. You should have about one inch of floss to use in between for your teeth. Use your thumbs and pointer fingers to kindly pull the floss between your teeth and to the gum line. Move the floss from below the gum line to the top of the tooth a few times to remove the plaque. Rub the floss up against all the sides of the tooth; once you do this, wind the floss so you have fresh floss in between each tooth.

If you use a floss pick, then the hard part is done for you, making the floss taut and having a secure hold on it. Do the same sort of maneuvers with the floss pick that you did with the regular floss. If your teeth are close together and it is difficult to get it to the gum line, then use a gentle, sawing motion to maneuver it down there. You might need to use more than one pick in a flossing session if the floss bit shreds or becomes too loose.

You can also use a WaterPik to compliment your flossing habits, not to replace them.

Flossing is not difficult, but kids may need a refresher and seniors who belong to a generation that never learned how to floss might need a lesson. Call today to ensure your family’s regular check-ups are scheduled, and we will have a flossing refresher for everyone at our Park Ridge dental office.