Flossing and It’s Importance for Your Oral Health

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is an essential preventive practice. But did you know that flossing also plays a vital role in keeping cavities and gum disease at bay? The next time you consider skipping flossing, remember that the few extra minutes you spend caring for your oral health will translate to long-term healthy smiles.

Flossing and Your Oral Health

At Hebron Family Dentistry, we believe in prevention rather than treating dental disease after it develops. That’s why we encourage our valued patients to maintain proper oral hygiene practices. Here’s why flossing is so important:

Flossing Lowers Your Risk of Developing Gum Disease: Regardless of how carefully you brush, you can’t remove bacteria, plaque, and food debris caught between your teeth. Flossing helps get to those hard-to-reach areas and clean them out. Otherwise, plaque bacteria start irritating the gum tissue, leading to gingivitis, the earliest stage of (periodontal) gum disease. If not treated, the condition will progress, resulting in bleeding, receding gums, bone loss, and even tooth loss.

Flossing Combats Tooth Decay: Leaving plaque sitting between your teeth allows cavity-causing bacteria to flourish and produce acids that attack the tooth enamel, leading to decay and cavities.

Flossing Prevents Bad Breath (Halitosis): Cleaning away odor-causing plaque bacteria and food particles will leave you with a clean and fresh smile!

Flossing Best Practices

Here are some flossing tips for clean teeth and healthy smiles:

• Floss once a day and take your time to ensure you don’t miss bacteria, plaque, or food particles.
• Cut off a strand of dental floss about 18 to 24 inches long and wrap it around the middle fingers, leaving an inch or two in between.
• Hold the floss firmly with your index fingers and thumbs.
• Slide the floss between two teeth and glide it gently up and down, rubbing it against the sides of each tooth.
• As the floss reaches the gums, curve it into a c-shape, working it beneath the gum lines on both sides.
• Repeat the steps, using a new, clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
• Rinse your mouth with water or an antimicrobial mouthwash when done.

Quality Preventive Dentistry Near Me

Contact Hebron Family Dentistry in Hebron, KY, to learn more about healthy practices for healthy smiles. Dr. Watson and her outstanding team are proud to offer quality preventive dentistry services designed to keep dental disease at bay. Call us and schedule your appointment today!