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FLOSSING
Dental Corner
“Have you been flossing regularly?” It’s the one question people dread when going to the dentist because it’s typically the one thing that most people don’t actually do on a regular basis. Most people follow the recommendation to brush twice a day, but seem to conveniently forget about the recommendation to floss at least once a day. 
Unfortunately, just as not brushing your teeth can have serious dental health consequences, not flossing regularly can also cause problems.
Sometimes patients ask if they brush their teeth regularly do they still need to floss. Well, I can’t help but think of a funny cartoon I once saw. It said you only needed to floss the teeth you want to keep. I suppose without being facetious that should answer the question.
However, it is important to understand why, in addition to brushing our teeth, we need to floss. When we brush our teeth we remove plaque and food particles from the chewing and smooth surfaces of the teeth. The bristles are not able to go between the teeth and below the gum line so we need to find a way to clean this area.
One of the most common reasons why people don’t floss is because they say that food doesn’t get stuck between their teeth. It is important to realize that in addition to removing food particles, flossing also gets rid of plaque between the teeth and below the gum line. Everyone gets plaque daily and it needs to be removed in order to prevent gum disease and tooth loss.
According to the American Dental Association, it is best to floss before bed each night. It is recommended to use a piece of floss up to 18 inches long so that it can easily slide between all teeth. Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand, the rest around your other middle finger. Grasp the string tightly between your thumb and forefinger, and use a rubbing motion to guide it between teeth. You should wrap it around each tooth in a “C” shape and use an up and down motion. Use fresh sections of floss as you go for each tooth.
If you haven’t flossed in a while, it can be uncomfortable to get back in the habit. In the beginning, it is common to see blood in the mouth. This is a side effect of inflamed gums where plaque has built up. After a few days, the bleeding should lessen. Some people lack the dexterity to reach in between back teeth. Most gum disease and most tooth decay happen in the back teeth so you need to make sure you clean this area properly.
If you have trouble reaching the back of your mouth, there are some other tools that you can use. They include disposable Y-shaped flossers that allow for extra reach, small round brushes, pointed rubber tips, water picks and interdental cleaners.
There is a wide assortment of flosses to choose from, enough to make anyone dizzy. However, most brands contain materials made from thin filaments and may have waxed or flavoured coatings. Choose the one that works best for you.
• Dental tape is thicker than regular floss and is used for teeth with wide spaces.
• Ribbon floss is smoother than conventional floss, so it is a good choice for people with sensitive gums.
• Super floss consists of a stiffened-end threader, a spongy floss and regular floss and is used by people who wear braces. The stiffened-end threader makes it easier to slide the superfloss through the gap between the teeth and braces. The spongy floss cleans around the braces and between wide spaces and the regular floss removes plaque from the adjacent tooth surfaces.
Remember, a small box of floss is a lot cheaper than having to treat gum disease. When you floss you are preventing serious disease from happening, which will save you money in the long run. As you start to floss more regularly, you will notice the difference in your overall oral health. It is also important for children to learn the benefits of flossing at an early age. Kids should start to floss as soon as they have two teeth that touch and will need their parents help until they can manage on their own.
So, next time instead of cringing when your dentist asks if you floss regularly, you can be proud to say that you do. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL on Tel: 227-0025 or send comments to [email protected].
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