Medical Insider–Dr Rhoda Entero

All that we need to know about Flossing

(Part 5)

Incorporating Flossing First into Your Oral Hygiene Regimen
For many, brushing is enough. It’s not though. It’s better than not brushing at all, but you can do better than just brushing regularly.

To clean your teeth like a dentist would, you should also floss before brushing. Aside from brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed like it is second nature, you should floss before brushing.

Many Americans aren’t as adept at flossing as they are brushing. According to an American Dental Association (ADA) survey, only 16 percent of them floss at least once a day.

Furthermore, 20 percent claim they only floss when something is stuck in between their teeth like corn or something. 8 percent also claim they never floss and only brush their teeth.

Of people who don’t floss every day, more than half of them claim it’s because they find the task too cumbersome.

However, if you’re going to brush your teeth every day anyway, you might as well floss before brushing to err on the side of caution. Curb this tradition of thinking that brushing is enough.

Keep your mouth cleaner and less likely to develop bleeding gums, sensitive gums, and gingivitis by carefully yet surely flossing those lines between teeth as extra protection against tooth decay.

Other Dental Hygiene Tips
To truly keep your oral and dental health in tiptop shape, here are some further tips for proper flossing, brushing, and rinsing as well as using mouthwash. Many Americans aren’t even aware of these tips!

-Regularly Floss: Floss your teeth always. Floss once a day, in fact. Floss in the morning or at night. Floss before you brush your teeth for the best results. Proper flossing involves breaking off 12 to 18 inches of floss.

Wrap both ends around your fingers then gently move the floss up and down the side of each tooth. Don’t reuse pieces of floss. After it’s filled with plaque, move towards a clean piece of floss and repeat the cycle.

Be gentle when moving the floss to remove food debris, bacteria, plaque, and particles. Don’t move the same gunk from one interdental space to another.

-Don’t Use Toothpicks: Use floss instead of toothpicks. A toothpick is more likely to damage your gums than floss. Even if you’re gentle with your floss, it’s great at food debris and plaque removal. It’s safer than toothpicks, which can cause wounds or a gum infection.

-Brush Twice Daily: Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. That’s 2 minutes of brushing every last tooth from front to back on both arches. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and gently move it back and forth over your teeth.

Alternately, move it in a circular motion. Make sure to brush the outer and inner surface of all your teeth (front and back). Don’t forget to brush your tongue to fight against halitosis and bacteria.

-Use Fluoride: Use fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, and water and let the fluoride set into your teeth to help strengthen your teeth enamel. It fights against dental caries and mineral loss from the presence of plaque.

-Be Gentle and Look for a Seal: Be gentle when flossing and brushing your teeth. It’s possible to floss too hard and brush too hard to the point of scratching away layers of enamel.

When the floss gets to the gum line, curve it to a C-shape. Also look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the dental products you use, from toothbrushes to toothpastes as well as flosses.

When to See a Dentist
You should see a dentist once a year or twice a year, (preferably before Thanksgiving and Christmas or in the middle of the year) even if you don’t suspect that you have any issues with your oral and dental health.

The dentist can identify any issues you’re not aware of while cleaning your mouth. The signs that you need a dentist include the following.

-Tooth pain

-Loose teeth

-Receding gums

-Red, swollen gums

-Persistent bad breath

-Sensitivity to hot and cold

-Gums that bleed easily after flossing or brushing

Your teeth will last longer with the assistance of the dentist’s attention. For the best results, you should regularly floss then wash out the released plaque and bacteria by brushing immediately.

Find a Dentist Who Takes Your Concerns Seriously
You can prevent most dental issues like cavities and gum disease with regular brushing and flossing. However, you can ensure better dental care by flossing first before brushing your teeth.

It’s relatively fine to brush first before flossing; it’s better than not cleaning your teeth at all. However, the better sequence is to floss first, and then brush. Doing this pattern will help you stick with a good dental