Flossing Myths

Do you floss your teeth on a regular basis, or just the day before heading in to South Waterfront Dental for your teeth cleaning and comprehensive exam twice a year?

We have heard many excuses and myths about why people don’t floss their teeth. Below are important myths and why they’re not true when it comes to flossing your teeth for the best dental health!

Myth #1 – I might floss the wrong way.

Flossing isn’t the most fun way to either start or end your day, but it’s hard to get it wrong. Start with a length of floss that is about 18 inches long. Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand, and the rest around the middle finger of the other hand. Use your thumbs and forefingers to grasp the floss and gently place the floss between the teeth.

When the floss hits the gum line, form a C shape against the side of the tooth and move the floss gently up and down. Repeat with the adjacent tooth, then complete the process which each of your teeth. If you want additional help, Dr. Beck, Dr. Morrow and their staff at South Waterfront Dental can show you how to get the most out of flossing!

Myth #2 – There’s no food between my teeth.

Although flossing between teeth removes food that has gotten caught, that’s not the only reason to do it. Floss is more about removing the dental plaque that forms on the surfaces of and between your teeth, which is difficult to see. Plaque build-up causes tooth decay, swollen gums, and periodontal disease if it isn’t removed, and the best way to get rid of it is to floss.

Myth #3 – I can’t floss because my fingers don’t fit in my mouth.

There are times when it’s difficult to get the floss where you need it to go for a variety of reasons. There are many tooth-cleaning tools for people who have hand pain, poor coordination, or conditions that keep them from being able to floss.

One way to floss is to use a holder. These Y-shaped plastic instruments hold floss between the two prongs to help keep it in place during the flossing routine. There are also disposable picks, conical rubber tips, and spiral brushes that can be used in addition to floss to help clean between teeth.

Myth #4 – I’m too busy to floss.

Our 21st century lives are busy, but when it comes to flossing, it’s worth making it a priority for a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Even flossing for a couple of minutes once a day can benefit your smile. The key to effective flossing in a short amount of time is to practice.

Keep floss next to the bathroom sink so it’s easy to see, or store floss picks in your purse, pocket, wallet or car for easy access during down time. This will keep floss easy to reach so that you can practice any time during the day.

Before heading into South Waterfront Dental for your next dental exam, remember to practice flossing!

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