How many times a day should you floss?
It has been well proven that flossing plays an important role in protecting the health of teeth and gums. Including flossing in your daily routine can help prevent tooth decay and other oral problems. For more information about when and how to use dental floss, as well as its benefits, stay with us in the rest of the article.
When should you floss?
How often do you need to floss? The American Dental Association recommends flossing once a day. Decide whether to floss in the morning or in the evening, and you can floss before or after brushing your teeth, depending on when you prefer. Flossing first removes plaque and food particles from the edges of the teeth, and then you can brush your teeth. However, if you prefer to floss after brushing.
If you want to floss twice a day, there is nothing wrong with it, just floss gently around the gums. If food particles get stuck between the teeth after eating, flossing helps to remove the food particles.
How does flossing help oral health?
Flossing removes food particles and plaque from hard-to-reach areas between teeth. There are many areas in the mouth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Plaques and bacteria can destroy tooth enamel and over time cause tooth decay and become a cavity on the tooth that will require filling, root canal treatment and other treatments.
If left untreated, the plaque on the teeth hardens and becomes dental plaque, and this plaque also causes gum disease and inflammation in the gums. Flossing prevents the formation of tartar and prevents periodontal problems.
Tips on proper flossing
If you are not sure if you are flossing correctly or not! Pay attention to the following tips to get the maximum benefit every time you use dental floss.
- Cut off a piece of floss about 18 to 24 inches long.
- Wrap the thread a few inches between your middle fingers. Hold the thread firmly with your thumb and forefinger.
- Place the floss between the two teeth, pull the floss up and down. Be sure to floss to the sides of both teeth.
- Avoid pushing the floss into the gums, which can irritate the gums.
- When flossing near the gums, make a “C” shape to clean the space between the teeth and the gums.
- Repeat these steps between each tooth. You can use the clean part of the floss for each tooth.
- There are different types of dental floss in the market, so consult your dentist to choose the best dental floss, especially if you are using dental veneers, orthodontics, etc.
