Throughout our busy days, natural bacteria in our mouths form a film of plaque over our teeth. This material can eat away at tooth enamel and cause severe dental damage if it remains on our teeth.
We practice oral hygiene on a regular basis to remove plaque from our smiles. This entails brushing twice each day with a good-quality toothbrush and toothpaste and flossing daily.
Though we know how crucial flossing is for our oral health, we might not be using the most effective method. Barataria Dental, a dentist’s office in Marrero, LA, offers advice on how to best clean your smile while flossing.
Pay Attention to Your Grip
In order to get an accurate and thorough clean for your smile, you should hold your floss in a way that allows you to maneuver the string between your teeth with ease and precision. The optimal length of floss to use during this step of your oral hygiene routine is 18 inches.
When flossing, you should wrap each end of your floss around the middle fingers on both hands to create a solid foundation. Then you should grip the floss with the index fingers and thumbs of each hand with about one inch of floss between them that you will use to clean your teeth.
As you progress through your mouth when you floss, you can pull the string around your middle fingers to reveal a clean bit of floss after utilizing the prior section. This firm but flexible grip allows you to clean your smile easily and completely.
Move with Precise Positioning
Once you have a secure hold on your floss, you can insert the floss between your teeth. To clean your teeth, you should press the floss tightly against your tooth and rub it up and down to remove lingering food particles and plaque build-up. Plaque and tartar can cause cavities and other dental problems if they are not removed from your teeth.
Continue with this process for each of your teeth on both the top and bottom arches. You should practice with gentle motions to avoid irritating your gums and causing them to bleed.
Consider Additional Flossing Tools
Dental professionals agree that traditional flossing methods are an effective method of cleaning between your teeth. But some dental patients with specific dental needs may want to consider alternative flossing tools.
Individuals with braces or other orthodontic appliances may find it easier to floss with floss picks. These tools feature stringed floss attached to a plastic handle, which creates the flexibility to navigate between brackets and other fixtures.
A water pick is a flossing device that uses a stream of irrigated water to clean between teeth. Patients with dental implants may appreciate how this tool can reach tricky spots in their mouths.
Get More Oral Hygiene Tips from Your Marrero, LA Dentist
Barataria Dental provides preventative dental cleanings and other general dental treatments to patients of all ages. Our highly qualified dentists are located in Marrero, LA and also specialize in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including tooth replacement solutions. To schedule a consultation with our practice, contact our staff online or reach us by phone at 504.358.8632.