Dental and Oral Health: The Importance of Flossing

Your Dental and Oral Health Are Important

Make Brushing and Flossing Teeth a Daily Habit

Maintaining proper oral and dental health is one of the best things you can do for your overall well-being. If you neglect your oral health, you put yourself at risk for several conditions, including cavities and gum disease. Poor oral health has also been linked to conditions like diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease.

The easiest and most effective way to ensure good oral and dental health is by making a committing to proper daily oral hygiene. Simple acts like brushing and flossing daily can make a huge difference in the life of your gums, mouth, teeth, and tongue. It is recommended to brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily and floss at least once daily. Beyond our daily hygiene habits, however, it is important to seek out frequent dental care from a professional. At Always a Smile Dental in Grand Rapids, MI, we take care of all of your dental health needs. Call today to learn more about the services we provide or to set up an appointment.

What Is Flossing?

Flossing is one aspect of daily dental hygiene that many people overlook. Some don’t consider it important, and others just don’t know how to do it properly. However, flossing is an important aspect of dental hygiene, and overlooking it could have detrimental health effects. Because of the mechanics of brushing your teeth and how toothbrushes are designed, you can’t clean in-between your teeth through brushing alone. Flossing is a way of getting between your teeth to get rid of the tiny particles, debris, and bacteria that your toothbrush cannot reach.

The Importance of Flossing

It is a commonly held belief in the dental health profession that flossing is the single best activity that you can do daily to improve or maintain your oral health. Regular flossing lessens the likelihood of plaque development and puts you at a lesser risk for gum disease and cavities. Flossing regularly now can help protect your dental and oral health in the future.

Flossing the Right Way

Flossing is most effective when done the right way. Get a piece of floss, about 18 inches long, and wind each end around your two middle fingers until you have about two or so inches of floss left in the middle. Next, hold the remaining floss with your index fingers and thumbs, pulling it until it is taut and straight.

Slide the floss up and down two teeth, gently pulling it back and forth. Go all the way down to your gum line, but be careful; it’s easy to bruise your gums. Bend the floss downwards, gently, to get below your gum line.

Rub the floss against the sides of each tooth to ensure you get any debris lodged between them. Repeat this process until you have flossed between all of your teeth, and try to use a clean piece of floss for each pair of teeth.

Take Care of Your Health: Schedule an Appointment Today

Flossing is a great way to maintain good dental health and a smile you can be proud of. If you are looking for other ways to improve your smile, consider Invisalign, a discreet aligner solution that straightens teeth quickly without the need for visible braces. Discover the many benefits of Invisalign today, and call us to learn more.