Seven Tips For Better Flossing

If you believe a healthy heart is important to your well-being, then you should know that flossing is also imperative for a healthy lifestyle. Heart disease has been linked with gum disease, and gum disease can occur within just 24 hours! And you thought visiting the dentist was scary! Failing to floss is far scarier. Incidentally, most patients who floss daily don’t fear dental appointments at all.

Naturally, we recommend brushing your teeth after each meal and flossing every night before going to bed. But if you could only choose between brushing your teeth or flossing, you should know that flossing is more essential. Infected gums produce bacteria that can get into your bloodstream and affect your cardiovascular wellness. If you don’t floss, then infection is inevitable.

Below are the Top 7 Tips You Must Know About Flossing:

1. You should brush and floss. Gum disease most frequently occurs between the teeth; so while brushing is important, flossing is absolutely necessary.

2. You should floss every night before bed. Your salivary glands neutralize bacteria, but they slow down at night while you sleep, so you should floss every night.

3. Avoid snapping the floss into your gums. Gently glide the floss between your teeth, and avoid snapping the floss into your gums because it can detach your gum tissue from your teeth. If it’s difficult for you not to snap your gums, try floss that’s designed for tight teeth.

4. Avoid “sawing” the floss, back and forth. Some flossers think the technique is to simply “saw” the floss, back and forth, in and out, between the teeth. But if you also bend the floss into a C shape and cup around the tooth, you can reach the bacteria that leads to gum disease.

5. Do not floss with something other than floss. Sometimes patients risk using their fingernails, paper clips or some other sharp objects rather than dental floss. This dangerous practice can puncture and damage your gums; instead, use waxed or unwaxed dental floss.

6. Wash your hands with soap and water before flossing. If you’re new to flossing, your gums may be inflamed and prone to bleeding. Therefore, it’s important to sanitize your hands prior to flossing to protect yourself from infection.

7. Swish and rinse your mouth with water after flossing. After you floss, loose particles of food and bacteria can be whisked away by swishing and rinsing with water.