Although many people are prone to skipping this oral hygiene step, flossing is actually an integral part of a sound dental routine. Our Glendale dental team has compiled a short primer one how to use floss and why. Let’s get started!
The ADA recommends you floss once a day
As you may already know, plaque, when left undisturbed on your smile, actually calcifies and turns into something called tartar. Tartar is much more difficult to remove than plaque. That is why it is vital that you brush daily to remove fresh plaque before it is able to calcify. Try flossing every night to clear away the bacteria that has accumulated during the day.
Use a floss that works for your smile
Floss comes in a number of different widths, textures, and flavors. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the floss you choose should be thin enough to fit between your teeth, all the way down into your gum tissue. If you use floss that is too thick, you will not be able to fully clean between your teeth.
Don’t re-use the same length of floss
Start with a long length of floss, and then move down that length of floss as you go from tooth to tooth, cleaning your smile. If you use a portion of floss over and over again, you may actually be compounding, rather than removing, plaque.
Swap toothpicks for floss
We all get food particles and dental debris stuck in our mouths from time to time. The next time that this happens to you, try using floss, rather than a toothpick, to dislodge particles from your smile. Toothpicks can be too sharp and abrasive for cleaning, and may actually damage oral tissues.
Even if it has been years since you have committed to an oral hygiene routine, our Glendale dentists can help you take the necessary steps to smile confidently again. Please do not hesitate to call our office to learn more or to schedule a personal consultation with our dentists.