When it comes to keeping your teeth clean, you probably know that regular brushing and flossing, as well as visits to a family dentist, are all necessary to prevent cavities. But you may underestimate the importance of flossing. Flossing can help prevent gum disease. It can also help you maintain a healthy smile.
Importance of flossing
Flossing once a day is extremely important to remove bits of food and bacteria from between the teeth. These bits of food can feed bacteria in the area, causing plaque to grow. This plaque can harden into tartar if it is not removed soon enough. Once tartar has formed, only a dentist will be able to completely remove it.
The plaque and the tartar can trap more bacteria in the area. This can cause gum disease for the patient. In gum disease, the gums become inflamed from an infection. The bacteria will form pockets underneath the gumline where more bacteria can grow. These pockets can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth. In the advanced stages of gum disease, the patient can lose gum and bone. This can cause the teeth to loosen and even fall out.
Some patients may not like to floss because they notice that the areas will bleed. However, when the gums are bleeding, this is actually an early sign of gum disease. The gums are beginning to become inflamed and infected, and the dental floss can irritate them. Patients should visit a family dentist if there is bleeding when flossing or brushing.
The right way to floss
Flossing the right way is extremely important. The patient should choose a waxed floss if it is difficult to get the floss between the teeth. This may be the case if the patient’s teeth are extremely close together or even slightly overlapping.
The patient should gently guide the floss between each of the teeth up to the gums. The patient should then move the floss around each tooth to the right and the left of the area. It is also important to floss the last teeth at the far back of the mouth. A family dentist can show a patient the right way to floss if a patient is unsure.
For patients with braces or other orthodontic appliances, flossing will take longer. However, it will pay off in the long run with a beautiful smile. A patient should use a floss threader to gently guide the floss under the wire of the braces or other orthodontic appliances. It is important for the patient to floss between each tooth right up to the gumline.
Visit a family dentist today
Flossing can help prevent gum disease that can cause harmful bone and tooth loss for you. By brushing and flossing in the right way, you can maintain a healthy smile for years to come. Visiting a family dentist regularly is important as well. Your family dentist can help you learn the right way to brush and floss your teeth.
Request an appointment here: https://www.dazzlemysmile.com or call Dazzling Smile Dental Group at (718) 841-9535 for an appointment in our Bayside office.
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