Flossing Is A Must!

Do you floss daily? No, we aren’t talking about the popular dance. We’re talking about flossing your teeth. One of the most important things you can do for your oral health is maintain your oral hygiene at home. Unfortunately, we only see our patients a few times a year, so the bulk of their oral care lands in their hands. Along with brushing your teeth twice daily, you should also be flossing daily. That is one area where many of our patients could improve. During routine examinations, we thoroughly check and clean your teeth, and we can tell who is flossing regularly.

Why Floss?

Even if you take great care when brushing your teeth, it is impossible to remove all lingering food and bacteria from between them. Dental floss helps you reach the food and bacteria stuck between your teeth. When not removed effectively, it turns into acid and begins to eat away at the tooth enamel. This is the reason why some patients experience cavities between their teeth.

How to Floss

Using dental floss can be difficult for some patients. In fact, we see some patients who are actually flossing incorrectly. We want our patients to feel confident while flossing. We are here to help if you or a loved one is unsure how to floss properly. Flossing incorrectly can lead to trauma or damage to the gums. You can always contact the office or ask for help during your next appointment. In the meantime, here are three helpful tips:

1. Wrap floss around both middle fingers
2. Control only a small piece at a time
3. Make a C and curve the floss under the gumline of each tooth rather than just up and down

If you are located in Montgomery, AL or the surrounding area and need a hygiene examination and cleaning, have further questions about brushing or flossing, or need additional treatments, contact our office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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