Ready to take your flossing routine to the next level? Most people know that flossing can help to keep harmful oral plaque at bay; unfortunately, many adult and pediatric dental patients don’t keep up with flossing like they should. Our O’Fallon dentists encourage you to jump start your flossing routine and get back on track. Keep reading to get some helpful tips!
Know when to floss for best results
The American Dental Association recommends that patients floss once a day in order to minimize plaque accumulation. For best results, floss right before you brush your teeth at night; this allows you to dislodge as much bacteria and dental debris as possible before you buff it away.
Prevent cross contamination
When you start to floss, tear off a large strip of floss. Then, move down the strip of floss as you go from tooth to tooth. This will help to ensure that you do not accidentally compound bacterial plaque as you go from tooth to tooth.
Don’t skip days
Remember that plaque is accumulating every day and every night—plaque production is simply an unavoidable byproduct of daily life. It is very important for you to floss every day in order to stay on top of plaque accumulation
Be thorough
As you move your floss between your teeth, make sure to move the floss both vertically and from side to side; this helps you scrape away as much plaque as possible from your dental surfaces. Gently guide the floss down into your gum tissue in order to keep your gum tissue clean as well.
Even if it has been a long time since you have flossed regularly, you can get back on track! Our O’Fallon dentists are here to give you any additional information or guidance that you may need. Give us a call to get started!