The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice each day and make a concerted effort to remember to thoroughly floss at least once. This daily oral hygiene routine is intended to remove residual sugar, latent food particles, and plaque buildup before they can contribute to tooth decay and periodontal health problems.
When these bacterial deposits remain in the mouth they can gradually harden into tartar on the base of your teeth near the gumline. As this continues to occur, you will be at increasing risk of suffering from gum disease.
It’s also important to note that your flossing technique will also weigh heavily in the overall effectiveness of your oral hygiene practices.
When flossing your teeth you should start by wrapping the excess strand around your middle fingers. The you should firmly grip the floss between your thumb and index fingers.
You can then gently slide it between the teeth. You can then curve the strand of dental floss to maximize contact with the surfaces of the tooth. Try to make several small passes along the length of each tooth.
Be sure to floss between each of your teeth, as well as along the gumline, as well as behind each of your rear molars.
When you’re shopping for dental floss try to always look for a brand that has earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. This ensures that it has been tested and researched for safe and effective use in a daily oral hygiene routine.
If you live in the Orlando, Florida, region and you have an oral hygiene concern, you can always call 407-277-3300 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael H. Connor and the oral care specialists at Orlando Periodontics & Implants.