Flossing is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your oral health, and any dentist in NE Calgary will tell you so. Flossing works to remove plaque and food debris from areas of your mouth that your toothbrush cannot reach, and the removal of this material is essential to maintaining optimal oral health. It is not only important that you floss but that you know how to floss the right way. Our team at Temple Dental Wellness tells you about some common flossing mistakes to avoid in this blog post.
Don’t Floss Aggressively
When you are flossing, it is important to remove the plaque from your teeth, but don’t treat your gums and teeth as an enemy that needs to be attacked. Be gentle with your mouth when flossing. If you are too rough, your gums will bleed and become irritated. Instead, spend time gently removing the plaque from between your teeth.
Don’t Place Pressure on Your Gums
The point of flossing is to remove plaque from the sides of your teeth, which is why you will notice that your hygienist flosses for you during your regular dental checkups in Calgary. When flossing, you are reaching between your teeth to remove the plaque up and away from the gums. So, when you are flossing your bottom teeth, you should be moving the plaque upwards with each movement, and when you are flossing your upper teeth, you should be moving the floss downwards.
There is never any need to place physical pressure on your gums with the floss. If you regularly place pressure on your gums with floss, you can cause lasting damage, so be careful to avoid this.
Don’t Depend on Flossing Alone
While flossing is important, you should not rely on it alone to maintain optimal oral health. You still need to brush your teeth twice a day and use a mouthwash to rinse your mouth. Additionally, it is imperative that you still get dental checkups in NE Calgary at least once every six months.
Don’t Rush
When you are flossing your teeth, it is important to take your time getting between each tooth. If you go too quickly, you can miss plaque and debris and even cause accidental damage to your gums. Remember that flossing is not a race!
Don’t Floss Too Often
While it may seem tempting to floss more than once a day, this isn’t necessary, and flossing too often can even do more harm than good. Since your gums are sensitive, flossing too often can irritate your gum tissue and sometimes damage it. Our dentist near you recommends that you floss once a day, ideally in the evening, to maintain optimal oral health.
The Bottom Line
Remember that flossing is a vital part of your daily oral hygiene routine. You should also visit a dentist for dental checkups near you at least twice a year for optimal oral health. At Temple Dental Wellness, we offer dental cleanings and checkups to all of our patients so that they can experience a healthy smile for a lifetime. We also offer advice for at-home dental care, including more advice on the best flossing techniques. Please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of dental professionals and book an appointment today!
