PROPER METHOD OF BRUSHING AND FLOSSING YOUR TEETH

The simple truth is that brushing on its own will not be enough to keep teeth healthy. Flossing needs to be part of your daily routine as well, and once you start to floss and brush on a regular basis, you will soon notice how much cleaner and fresher your mouth feels.

We are all accustomed to brushing regularly and we know that we have to do this to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Most of us will brush our teeth twice a day and it is quite likely that we may think that we have done our bit for our teeth and that brushing is enough. Many of us don't realize that in order to have a healthy mouth flossing has to be an additional and essential part of any dental routine. Studies have shown that if your mouth is healthy you can make a positive impact on your overall health. 

Why flossing is so vital and how to floss your teeth properly.

The reason that brushing alone is not enough is that plaque can be present in between the teeth, and if it is left to its own devices it will slowly ruin your gums. Flossing will allow you to get into those small plaque hiding spaces and remove the plaque before it becomes problematic. Dentists will recommend that you floss before you brush to loosen plaque. The bottom line is that if you don’t floss regularly, tartar will build up in between your teeth, and that will lead to gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease. Untreated gingivitis will lead to periodontitis. This is a much more severe form of gum disease and will lead to bone and tooth loss.

And what you might not know is that flossing might actually save you money because by flossing regularly, dental visits may only be necessary for yearly cleaning.

As far as general health is concerned, studies have shown that diseases of the teeth, gums, and mouth can, over time, lead to other diseases in the body, such as heart disease and even diabetes.

BRUSHING AND FLOSSING YOUR TEETH THE RIGHT WAY

Brush your teeth twice a day regularly and brush the surface of teeth, cheek-side, and tongue.

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush with a round head that can reach all parts of your teeth and replace them within 2 to 3 months or when the bristles get hard, whichever comes first.

You can use an electronic toothbrush as they are more effective than normal ones.

Do not use the brush vigorously, as it might cause damage to the enamel.

Brush your tongue as it will help in removing plaque that is the reason for bad breath and bacterial growth in the mouth.

Flossing is an effective technique to get rid of any food particles from the mouth. While flossing use any of the below-mentioned techniques:

Circle method: Use 30 cm long floss and tie the ends together so as to form a loop.

Finger-wrap method: Use 40 to 45 cm long floss and wrap one end to your right middle finger and one end to the left middle finger.

BENEFITS OF BRUSHING AND FLOSSING

Brushing twice a day can help in breaking down plaque and reduce bacterial activity in your mouth

Using a dental floss regularly helps in removing tartar and plaque buildup from your mouth

Flossing helps in removing the small food particles that get stuck between teeth and give rise to tooth decay

Brushing and flossing will ensure that the results of teeth whitening treatment last for a long-term

Flossing as often as you can, and certainly, after you have eaten, will pay dividends and remember that by having a healthy mouth, you are giving yourself a much better chance of having a healthy body as well.

So these are the reasons why it really does make sense to floss, every day, several times per day and if you can after you have eaten. The money you could save on dental treatment and the added advantage to your general health make this the kind of routine that it makes perfect sense to adapt and keep going.