The Importance of Flossing

You’ve probably heard that you should floss every day, but are you convinced? Do you know what could happen if you don’t floss well? Or do you floss regularly but worry about your technique? Today, our team at Family Dentistry is happy to discuss the importance—and technique—of flossing.

How Important is Flossing?

Flossing should be an integral part of your oral hygiene. If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth, your gums could become inflamed—including plaque that can’t be reached with a brush. If plaque is left on your smile, you could damage experience a wide array of problems, including gum disease. This is a problem because gum disease has been tied to heart disease, dementia, respiratory problems, diabetes and cancer because the bacteria enter your blood stream through your gums.

How Can I Improve My Flossing?

Even if you floss daily, if you miss plaque, your teeth could still be at risk for gum disease. This makes using proper techniques more important. The first thing you should do is wash your hands. Also, please remember to use clean areas while you gloss. Germs—whether on your hands or floss—may enter your blood stream and lead to other complications.

When you floss, you should wrap about a food and a half of floss around your middle finger. Use your thumb and index finger to guide the floss. Remember to glide the floss up and down your teeth, remembering to clean under your gumline.

With these tips, you may be able to improve your oral hygiene. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact us at 812-853-3313. Dr. Schmitz, Dr. Fickas , Dr. Fabiano and Dr. Biggerstaff, and our entire team will be happy to answer any questions you have.