Are You Flossing Correctly?

If you've ever been to the dentist, there is a good chance that you've been given a lecture on not flossing enough. Though most people tend to zone out or even nod off during this lecture, some of these same individuals are destined to return to have cavities filled that could have been easily prevented with a regular flossing regimen. Even when people do floss, some do not floss properly in order to see real benefits. So, though you could have picked this up while in the dentist's chair had you not been tuning out the flossing lecture, do you know if you're flossing properly? 


When to floss. 
Though some may look at you funny for flossing before you brush, this is actually the most recommended method of flossing. Individuals with any concern for their dental health are encouraged to add flossing to their nightly dental ritual just before brushing. By brushing before you floss, you help free up particles of food, plaque, and other debris caught between teeth in order for your tooth brush to give such material the one-two punch out of your mouth. After brushing, some form of mouth rinse is recommended in order to rid the mouth of the particles you just flossed and brushed out from behind nooks and crannies in the mouth. 

What to floss to use. 
While dentists will say "any floss is better than no floss", the best floss or flossing device is the floss that you'll actually want to use. At times, pulling out the floss, properly wrapping it around your fingers, and pushing your fingers into the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth can seem like far too much work; especially if there are no particles evident upon looking in the mirror. In order to remedy this, there are many disposable floss picks on the market that take the hassle out of finger-wrapping and keep your digits out of your mouth. Though these picks can cost just a little bit more than the average box of floss, they're still much cheaper than taking time off work, school, or away from other activities to have a cavity drilled and filled with a filling that will someday have to be replaced. 

Few people actually understand how closely the health of the teeth and gums are tied to other aspects of the body. Gum infections can result in pain, tooth loss, and infections can spread to other parts of the body; some of which, when infected, can be potentially life-threatening. Flossing properly takes 2 minutes at the most and has the ability to greatly improve one's dental health. Flossing becomes much less of a burden when it becomes a habit and will usually become an activity that you look forward to doing in order to restore "that clean feeling" to your mouth before bedtime. 

For more information on how to floss properly, Coast Dental answers many dental floss questions the average floss user (or non-user). For a reliable family dentist Tulsa, OK dental patients know and trust, look no further and Tulsa dentist Dr. Larry James, D.D.S., for all your dental needs.