Protect Your Oral Health by Learning How to Floss Properly

Learning how to floss properly is key to maintaining good oral health. Gum disease and tooth decay develop if you allow plaque to build up along the gum line. Professional teeth cleaning and daily brushing play major roles in keeping your teeth clean. But they each have their limitations.

Why You Need to Learn How to Floss Properly

Plaque has more than 500 bacterial species. Some of these species are good for your mouth, and others are damaging. When these combine with water, food debris, and other components, they form plaque. Plaque may contribute to gum disease and tooth decay.

The American Dental Association says that flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth. Flossing removes plaque from areas where your toothbrush cannot reach. It is important to understand the proper technique for flossing so that you can do it effectively. Our dentists at Lovett Dental Piney Point Village will be happy to show you the proper flossing technique to be effective.

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth for two minutes two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste. You should floss your teeth at least once a day.

What Steps Should You Follow When Learning How to Floss Properly?

The proper flossing technique is easy to learn. It includes the following:

Start with around 16 inches of dental floss.
Wind the floss around the middle finger of each hand so that you have about an inch and a half of floss to work with.
Hold the floss to tighten your thumbs and index finger, and then slide it up and down between your teeth.
Curve the floss around your teeth, get the floss beneath the gum line, and be careful not to cut or bruise gum tissue.
Use a clean section of floss for each area.
Use a back-and-forth motion to remove the floss, bringing it up and away from your teeth.

Flossing can do more harm than good if you do not do it correctly. An improper technique may push plaque between the teeth and under the gums. Dragging floss back-and-forth will not remove plaque but may damage your gums.

Why Parents and Seniors Should Be Concerned With Knowing How to Floss Properly

Helping kids get comfortable with flossing as soon as they get their first tooth gives them the tools they need to fight cavities and future teeth problems. Flossing requires a manual dexterity that most children do not have until they are 10 or 11 years old. This means that parents are in the best position to teach their children how to floss.

Because of not having complete control over their motor skills, children may floss too hard, thereby damaging the tissue between their teeth. Parents can use a gentle touch to help children understand how it should feel when they floss.

Flossing should be an activity that parents and children perform together at least once daily. Parents may floss a few of their child’s teeth and then show the child how to wrap the floss around their fingers, judge the space they need, and gently slide the dental floss up and down their teeth. Children who learn to floss early develop a lifelong habit. When you bring your children in for dental care at Lovett Dental Piney Point Village, our team will be happy to show you how you can make flossing a family affair.

Some of the other services we offer for you and your family include:

There are a number of conditions that occur with age that can cause seniors to have dental problems. Many seniors have had a lot of dental work done over their lifetime. Seniors use medications that can lead to dry mouth, making them more susceptible to tooth decay. When seniors face conditions that increase their chance of tooth decay, frequent brushing and flossing can help reduce these risks.

Reach Out to Us Today

At Lovett Dental Piney Point Village, we have provided top dental care people have learned to rely on. We care about your oral health. We see you as a person, not just as a number or name. Contact Lovett Dental today at 832-242-2030. Let us help you keep your oral health on track.