If you have been to the dentist before, you have likely been told that, alongside brushing your teeth, you should regularly floss. Flossing is an underappreciated habit. However, it is crucial to maintain and improve your oral health. Flossing cleans the teeth in places a toothbrush is incapable of reaching. If you skip this vital step in your dental hygiene routine, plaque can build up between your teeth and around your gumline. This can cause you to develop tartar, resulting in bad breath and teeth discoloration. Ultimately, flossing can reduce the risks of tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease. That said, you should regularly floss your teeth as there are several oral health benefits. If you are having trouble regularly flossing, contact our adept general dentistry/dentists located in Basking Ridge & Morristown, NJ, who can help you learn how to make this process easier.
What are some tips to make flossing easier?
Although many people understand the importance of flossing their teeth, they neglect to do so because the material can be challenging to work with. However, there are ways to make flossing simpler. Firstly, you want to use plenty of floss. If you stick to one string, it can snap easily, which can hurt. It would be best to use a long strand of about 18 inches to make it easier. Long strands will help you get in between the crevices of your teeth without a struggle. A helpful tip is to ensure the floss is long enough to wrap it around your fingers, giving enough space to move the floss seamlessly.
Flossing is also much easier to do when it is performed gently. If you move too quickly or rough while cleaning the crevices of your teeth, the aggressive motions could cause your gums to bleed. You do not want to push too hard on the floss as it will damage your mouth and cause significant pain. If you experience pain from aggressive flossing, you may be scared off from doing it regularly. To prevent this, you should floss gently. You will still be able to remove built-up plaque without causing damage to your gums or mouth.
Furthermore, you will want to have a firm grip on the floss. Some flosses are less durable than others. Therefore, you should research or ask your dentist for a recommended brand of floss that is strong. Cheaper materials will break more easily and cause damage to your mouth. When you have a solid grip, you can maneuver the floss to get in between hard-to-reach crevices, removing any unwanted food debris. Additionally, you may find it helpful to use different tools alongside flossing. Combining flossing with Waterpiks, which uses a pressurized stream of water to clean away particles and bacteria from your teeth, can help you achieve desirable results.
As you can see, there are several ways to make flossing more manageable, allowing you to implement it into your regular dental routine to improve your oral health. The best way to maintain oral health is by visiting your dentist regularly. To ensure you have the healthiest mouth, schedule an appointment with a trusted dentist from the Dental Associates of Basking Ridge today.
