The habit of flossing also allows one to examine their oral cavity thoroughly and look for any swelling, redness or decay.
Dental floss is a thin, soft thread used to clean areas between the teeth and oral hygiene, but it is essential to keep teeth and gums healthy. Yes! Your teeth need more than just brushing twice daily. Flossing, one of the important oral hygiene habits, keeps your gums and teeth healthy in several ways.
Benefits of dental floss
A tooth has five surfaces, and a toothbrush can only reach three of them. Two sides of a tooth remain uncleaned. Flossing can clean the areas between the teeth where the toothbrush usually can not reach. Removing stuck food particles from these interdental spaces prevents gum irritation and plaque accumulation, a sticky layer harbouring bacteria.
Gum protection
The use of floss regularly removes plaque, thus preventing tartar formation. Ultimately, prevention of plaque build-up protects from the gum disease called Gingivitis that is inflammation and bleeding of gums. Gingivitis is an early-stage disease, and flossing can prevent furthering of the condition and thus gum recession and eventual tooth loss.
Prevention of tooth decay
Plaque and bacteria are also the culprits of tooth decay. Areas between the teeth are where decay is usually hidden and not visible to us. Flossing, therefore, also reduces the chances of tooth decay by preventing plaque and bacterial accumulation and can even reverse early-stage cavity formation.
Protection from other diseases
Researchers believe that bacteria from gum disease can enter our bloodstream and travel to other body parts, causing inflammation there. There have been links found that the bacteria causing gum disease and other conditions such as heart diseases, Alzheimer’s, respiratory illness. A simple habit of flossing can thus also protect one from serious illnesses.
Overall oral health maintenance
Halitosis(bad breath) is caused by stuck food particles and plaque accumulation between teeth and on the tongue and the presence of gum disease, and flossing can prove to be beneficial to avoid bad breath. The tongue can also be cleaned by using floss. The habit of flossing also gives one the opportunity to examine their oral cavity thoroughly and look for any swelling, redness or decay.
Method of flossing
One thing more important than flossing is how to floss correctly; to not cause any damage to gums, follow these instructions for proper floss technique:
1) Cut 18-24 inches thread, wind around both of your index fingers, leaving 1-2 inches for the teeth.
2) Hold it using your index finger and thumb.
3) Gently pass it between two teeth and glide up and down.
4) Do not snap the floss; make it curve into a C shape against one tooth when you reach the gums so it can enter the area between the gum and the tooth.
5) Pull it out similarly by gently gliding over the tooth surface.
Best time to floss
ADA recommends flossing at least once daily in the evening after having your last meal of the day and before brushing so those food particles that came out from in between teeth can later be removed by brushing.
Take away
Flossing has proven to be a beneficial and essential oral hygiene habit, and it’s time to give your oral cavity the attention and care it needs. Floss comes in different flavours, or waxed ones for crowded teeth, super floss for people with braces or bridges, and dental picks to reach teeth far back in the mouth. Therefore, no need to feel frustrated and just floss!