Flossing is Essential for Optimal Oral Health

Flossing is one of the most important steps in your oral hygiene routine, yet it’s often overlooked or forgotten. At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, we believe that flossing is essential to maintain optimal oral health and prevent cavities and gum disease. Let’s discuss why flossing is so important and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine.

What Does Floss Do?

Floss is designed to clean the areas between teeth that are too tight for a toothbrush to reach. If left uncleaned, plaque builds up in these hard-to-reach places and can lead to cavities and gum disease. In addition to removing plaque, floss also helps remove food particles from between teeth before they have a chance to rot and cause bad breath.

When Should I Floss?

At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, we recommend that patients floss at least once per day. It’s best to floss after brushing, as this ensures that all food particles are removed before saliva dries them back onto the teeth. You should also use either waxed or unwaxed dental floss depending on your preferences; both types of floss are just as effective at removing plaque and food particles from between teeth.

How Should I Floss?

We recommend using about 18 inches of floss at a time so you don’t accidentally cross-contaminate surfaces in your mouth with bacteria present on used portions of the string. Gently slide the string between each tooth and against the sides of each tooth, curving it around the base of each one in a C shape as you go along. Be sure to be gentle when you do this; if you press too hard with the dental floss, you may damage your gums or cause bleeding. Once finished, rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash to get rid of any remaining plaque or food particles.

Contact Us Today!

Flossing may seem like an annoying step in your oral hygiene routine — but taking just a few minutes per day can make a huge difference in preventing cavities and gum disease down the road! At Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, we highly recommend incorporating regular daily flossing into your oral health routine for optimal dental health. If you have questions about how to properly use dental floss or want more information about other healthy habits for maintaining good oral hygiene, please contact our office today! We look forward to hearing from you!