Healthy Flossing Habits

Academy Dental is a warm, inviting SPA-themed dentist facility in Hamilton, and is rated as one of the best places by Hulafrog for dental treatment. Dr. Navleen Thind, D.D.S. is a trusted dentist who practices adults and kids’ dentistry, along with Dr. Steven Reff, Dr. Pankaj Puri (Orthodontist) and Dr. Roshanjit Kaur. 

Flossing is a very important task to incorporate into your daily routine, since it prevents gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities. By cleaning between your teeth, flossing reduces the presence of bacteria and plaque, which cause those oral health problems. Today we are providing the best flossing habits to develop, which will boost your motivation to floss and improve your flossing techniques:

Firstly, it is necessary to understand how to floss properly. Start by obtaining a long piece of floss, about 18 inches, and wind the floss around your middle fingers, leaving only one to two inches accessible. Then place the floss between two teeth, gently guiding the floss up and down. When the floss reaches your gums, curve the floss to form a “C” shape. This action allows for more thorough cleaning since the floss can enter the space between your gums and your tooth. As you move onto your next tooth, adjust the floss so a new, clean section is being used. You should be flossing with these steps at least once a day.

One important flossing habit to maintain is never forcing the floss into place. If you are too aggressive when flossing, rather than carefully sliding it between your teeth, you may be damaging your gums. Although your gums may bleed when you first start flossing regularly, you should not be in pain when you are flossing. 

Another ideal flossing habit is to floss slowly and steadily, rather than rushing the process. If you rush when flossing, you are likely to over-floss, have worse results, or hurt your gums. By flossing at an appropriate speed, you will actually remove the plaque between your teeth, not simply hit your gums. Consistently hitting your gums and fast flossing can lead to permanent gum recession.

Lastly, a helpful habit when flossing is flossing before brushing your teeth. By flossing first, you will lift and release any food or plaque lodged between your teeth, and then brushing after will actually remove the particles from your mouth. If you brush first and then floss, some of the food and plaque will remain in your mouth until you brush your teeth next.

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