Oral Hygiene Basics: Don’t Forget to Floss

Brushing and flossing teeth are critical oral hygiene basics that everyone should include in their care routines. Many people already know the proper procedures and benefits of brushing their teeth regularly, but flossing sometimes gets left out. In fact, according to U.S. News, only about 30% of the population in the United States flosses daily. Good oral hygiene helps prevent decay, diseases, and other systems issues within your body. To help maintain your overall wellbeing, including proper flossing in your oral care routine is essential.

Flossing basics

Flossing is the act of carefully moving a piece of dental floss up and down between each tooth to remove any food particles or plaque that can cause damage. Many dental associations and dental product companies recommend flossing at least one or more times a day to minimize buildup while stimulating healthy gums.

Why floss

Flossing removes any foreign particles stuck between teeth. Having food stuck between your teeth is more than just embarrassing; it can also damage your oral health. When food particles or other residue is left to sit along your gum line or between your teeth in hard-to-brush areas, it can form plaque. Plaque is a sticky deposit from the food and saliva mixture in your mouth. After a time, if not properly removed, plaque will develop into tartar or calculus, which can eventually cause gum disease or other complications.

When to floss

Once-a-day flossing is recommended. Many people prefer to floss before going to bed, so they do not sleep with any food particles or bacteria left to proliferate in their mouths overnight. Other people prefer to keep floss handy and privately floss after every meal or snack to ensure they maintain good oral hygiene basics. No matter the time, make sure to floss at least once a day, every day, to ensure a healthy routine.

How to floss

Flossing is often misunderstood and incorrectly executed. To floss correctly, begin by unraveling a piece of dental floss at least the length of your arm and follow these directions:

• Wrap a length of one end of the floss around the index finger of your dominant hand.
• Secure the tail end with the middle finger of the other hand.
• Leave about three to four inches between your two fingers.
• Gripping the floss, slide a strand between two teeth.
• When you reach the gum line, move it gently up the side of the next tooth.
• Slide the floss out and remove any residue.
• Ravel the used floss to the tail end and unravel new clean floss.
• Repeat the procedure between all teeth.