You brushed your teeth last night before bed, and you brushed again this morning before you started your day. That is a good start, but did you brush between your teeth? Probably not, since toothbrushes do not reach into those spaces, and even mouthwash cannot clean between teeth. But those areas should not be forgotten, since food debris and plaque can build up there, leading to tooth decay and contributing to gum disease. Fortunately, dental floss is the perfect took for cleaning between your teeth.
If you wear braces, your dentist or orthodontist will probably have you floss after each meal to remove the food particles that can become stuck in your dental work. Otherwise, floss once a day. Many people do it just before bed. It doesn’t matter if your brush or floss first, just as long as you do a careful job of both.
You can use flavored or unflavored dental floss – it is a matter of personal choice. Waxed dental floss glides between teeth a little easier. You may want to select a monofilament floss as opposed to a nylon floss. Monofilament is less prone to shredding as you use it.
You will want to start with 18 inches of floss, and wrap most of it around each middle finger. You should leave yourself about one or two inches of floss which you will hold between your thumbs and forefingers. Start at your back teeth and work your way forward. Wrap the floss around each tooth and then floss under, and then away from your gumline. Use a fresh section of floss for each tooth, and dispose of the floss when you are done. Reusing the floss will only reintroduce the food particles and bacteria to your mouth.
Flossing is only one part of a sound dental regimen. Don’t forget to see your dentist for your routine cleaning and examinations. If in fact, it is time for your regular appointment, our dentist, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez Flores has a chair ready for you! To make an appointment at Flores Dental Care in Mission, Texas, call 956-583-0055 today.