Your daily oral hygiene routine is the first line of defense against problems with gum disease and tooth decay. To aid in this important effort the American Dental Association recommends brushing twice and flossing once each day.
Flossing is especially important for removing bacterial deposits and residual food particles from between your teeth and along the gumline. If these areas are not cleaned daily hardened tartar could form. Once this happens, your mouth is at increased risk of suffering from gum disease and other periodontal health problems.
There are several variations on dental floss, including braided nylon and microfilament. Some brands include an added flavor and offer dental floss with a wax coating. None of these variations make one type of floss more effective than the other. Finding the one that you prefer will help keep you encouraged to floss each day.
When flossing you can wrap the excess floss around your middle fingers. Grip the strand firmly between your thumb and index fingers. You can then gently slide it between the teeth. Then, you should work it around your teeth in a basic U shape. Try to make several small passes along the length of each tooth.
Be sure to also floss thoroughly into the gumline as well as behind each of your rear molars. These areas are sometimes ignored, yet they can trap a significant amount of bacterial matter.
When you are done flossing, you can rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash that has been approved by the ADA. This can help wash away loosened material and kill bacteria.
It’s also important to attend a regular dental exam and cleaning at Dr. German Jaquez’s dental office. This will clean away all traces of hardened tartar from your mouth while also monitoring the health of your teeth and gums.
If you live in the Claremont, California, area and you have gum health concerns you can call 909-624-1111 to schedule a dental exam at Claremont Smile Design.