Mar 4, 2020
Cosmetic Dentistry

A String of Your Biggest Questions About Flossing


ou’ve been told for years that flossing is just as important to your oral hygiene as brushing. Yet, if you’re like a vast majority of Americans, you continue to push flossing to the wayside. Because flossing can be a major deterrent to a number of oral diseases, it’s time to get serious about flossing. As the area’s leading dentist, Rosslyn Farms Dental wants to help instill healthy oral health habits. That’s why we’re here to break down a number of your biggest questions about flossing, including:

  • Why is flossing so important?
  • Can a dentist tell if you don’t floss?
  • How do I floss properly?

With these questions answered, Rosslyn Farms Dental hopes you can begin making smarter choices about your oral health and flossing habits. Check it out!

Why is flossing so important?

The area’s leading dentist, Rosslyn Farm Dental, prevents gum disease with flossing

Flossing Rosslyn Farms

For most people, understanding why flossing is important doesn’t take a lot of extra thought. Simply put, brushing alone can’t reach the entire surface of the tooth. According to the area’s leading dentist Rosslyn Farms Dental Aesthetics, the food particles and sugar left behind from your day can lead to plaque buildup between your teeth. This plaque is filled with millions of bacteria that can eat through the surface of your teeth and lead to decay or cavities.

In addition to cavities in your teeth, the plaque buildup caused by ignoring flossing can lead to the following oral health issues:

  • Gum Disease: as a disease that progresses from gingivitis to serious periodontal conditions, gum disease is the major threat encountered by those who do not floss. Gum disease is caused by plaque buildup. The bacteria in the plaque can begin to cause sensitivity and bleeding in the gums and will eventually lead to infection. People of all ages face gum disease, which is why it’s important to be proactive about flossing every day.
  • Halitosis: halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath, is a major reason people should make flossing a normal part of their dental routine. Chronic bad breath is often a sign of disease or illness — like gum disease, for instance — which is why it’s important to pay attention to bad breath to prevent further oral health issues.

While it’s clear that flossing is a key aspect of your oral health (and effectively doesn’t take that much time), a huge number of people don’t floss their teeth. According to a number of studies, only about 30% of people report flossing every day. On top of that, a number of sociocultural differences in a person’s likelihood to floss exist, including gender, race, and socioeconomic status.

But this begs to question; why don’t more people floss?

Some suggest that flossing is not frequently done because many people find it to be uncomfortable. People with overcrowded teeth sometimes struggle to floss altogether. Others become discouraged when they start flossing because it is uncomfortable and leads to bleeding gums. However, these people should be especially focused on flossing because bleeding could be a sign of gingivitis or gum disease.

Can a dentist tell if you don’t floss?

According to Rosslyn Farms Dental, the mouth hides no secrets

Rosslyn Farm Dental Flossing

While about 30% of people report flossing every day, dentists suspect that this number may be heavily overreported. Some dentists suspect that the number of daily flossers in the United States is closer to only about 10% of the population.

In other words, the area’s leading dentist Rosslyn Farms Dental can always tell whether or not you floss based on the amount of plaque build-up between your teeth. Because of this, it’s not worth lying to your dentist about your habits.

How does leading dentist Rosslyn Farms Dental recommend flossing?

The area’s leading dentist, Rosslyn Farm Dental, Recommends this 4-Step Method

Children flossing rosslyn farms

If you’re looking to start flossing your teeth effectively, it’s important to know the proper technique. Whether you use traditional floss or a flossing pick, using these 4 fun and simple sayings from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association for proper technique:

  1. Wind: Wind approximately 18 inches of floss around the middle or index finger. Using the middle finger leaves your index finger free to manipulate the floss. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
  2. Guide: Keep a one- to two-inch length of floss between fingers. Use your index finger to guide the floss between the teeth.
  3. Glide: Guide the floss gently using a zig-zag type of motion. Glide the floss around the side of the tooth, making a “C” type shape as you wrap the floss around the tooth.
  4. Slide: Using your thumb as a guide, slide the floss up and down against the tooth surface, under the gum line, and along the back side of each tooth, removing plaque and debris.

Ready to make sure your oral health is in tip-top shape? Get in touch with the team at Rosslyn Farms Dental Aesthetics to schedule an appointment today.

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