What $2 Investment Saves You Hundreds?

What have you been doing with the dental floss you receive from your hygienist? Have you used it or is it piling up in a corner? Yes, that little string will save you hundreds! Do you want to save hundreds by preventing dental cavities, avoiding root canals and crowns? You guessed it...flossing helps AVOID seeing me for teeth treatment.

It can be said, flossing is just as important as brushing. Just brushing your teeth isn't enough to keep your mouth clean and prevent disease. The tissue between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach is more prone to inflammation and infection. That is why flossing daily is just as essential to your overall oral health care as brushing. The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests flossing at least once a day to promote total oral health.

WHY should you floss?

Flossing removes plaque from the areas of your teeth that your toothbrush just can't reach. If you don't remove this plaque, it can harden into calculus or tartar which causes inflammation that can lead to infection or disease. Two common issues associated with not flossing include gingivitis (gum infection) and periodontitis (gum disease), both of which can lead to the loss of a once-healthy tooth. Your oral health has a direct bearing on your whole health. Chronic inflammation in the mouth is serious due to its association with similar inflammation conditions of the body such as...

chronic periodontitis
asthma
rheumatoid arthritis
chronic peptic ulcer
tuberculosis
ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
chronic sinusitis
chronic active hepatitis (there are many more)

WHEN should you floss?

In the end, it does not matter if you floss during the day or the night, as long as you floss regularly. The best way to make sure that you're flossing on a regular basis is to make it a part of your daily routine. If you feel too tired at night, try flossing in the mornings. If your mornings feel too rushed, make flossing a regular part of your nightly ritual.

HOW to:

Slide floss up and down between each side (the left and the right) of the tooth. Don't just pop the floss down into the gums, that hurts and not helping. Be conscience to slide down the side of the tooth (front and back) as shown.

Tips from the ADA:

If you experience pain or bleeding when you first start flossing, this pain should ease within a week or two of regular flossing and brushing. It's also a sign that inflammation is there. Keep regular at flossing to get inflammation out so that you will become healthier. Especially at these times, it is good to use a mouthrinse such as Listerine after you floss. If you still experience discomfort after you have been flossing regularly, contact us.
Try different flossing methods and find one that works best for you. Those who have difficulty flossing may like using a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, or even just a different type of floss (wax or unwaxed).
Flossing is necessary for children who have at least two teeth that touch. If your child is not yet able to floss effectively by themselves, help them floss and make it a regular part of their teeth-brushing routine.