Skip to main content

Prevention

How to Floss




One of the major causes of tooth loss today is due to gum disease or periodontitis. Plaque and bacteria build up on and between the teeth; their presence serves as a constant irritation for the gums. Flossing helps to remove plaque and debris from between your teeth, areas inaccessible to a toothbrush.


How To Floss:
  • Wrap about 18 inches of floss around the middle fingers of your hands.     
  • Using your thumbs and forefingers gently pass the floss between your teeth. Never "snap" the floss; it can cut the gums. If done improperly, it can injure your gums. 
  • When the floss reaches the gums, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel pressure against the tooth. 
  • Gently scrape the side of the tooth with the floss while pulling the floss up through the contact (between the teeth). 
  • Repeat this method on all your teeth.  
  • Move to a clean area of floss after each tooth.


1 in 5  Americans have never flossed their teeth! Of those that have picked up a piece of floss, only 1 in 4 have actually used it in the last 6 months!


Flossing Tips


Commercial floss holders are available if you’re having a hard time holding on to the floss.


Children generally do much better when the floss is looped. Take a 1 foot section of floss and tie the ends together forming a loop. Have them hold the floss tightly between their thumbs and forefingers. However, most children cannot floss their own teeth properly until the age of 8-10.


The best way to commit to flossing is by establishing a regular time for it. If you watch Tv in the evenings, jump up and grab some floss at the commercial break (unless a dental add is on, of course).


If your gums bleed initially don’t be alarmed. If you haven’t been flossing regularly the  gums need to be conditioned. Tenderness after flossing the first several times is completely normal. Warm saltwater rinses help to relieve some of the discomfort.


Tender, bleeding gums are an indication of gum disease; if these symptoms  persist after one week of daily regular flossing, contact your dentist for additional treatment. Periodontal disease  does not spontaneously resolve; it requires treatment. If left untreated, it can cause serious problems such as gum recession, bone and tooth loss.



 We're out participating at educational conventions and seminars throughout the year and we'd like to use this blog as a dental resource for our community of Phoenix, AZ (and beyond). Of course, we welcome you to join the conversation. Suggest topics and ask those burning questions about dentistry that keep you up at night. Please feel free to contact me through the Morse Family Dental  website. Remember, the advice provided here is intended to aid you in understanding some of the treatment options available. It is important to note that before beginning any course of treatment you should always see your dentist. 
Labels:
Location: Phoenix, AZ 85085, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked Teeth Below are some answers to common questions patient's have about cracked teeth:  Why Do Teeth Crack? Will My Grinding Habit Make It Worse? Why Does It Hurt To Bite On It? Why Is It Sensitive to Hot and Cold? What Will Happen If I Just Do Nothing? What's The Usual Treatment for A Cracked Tooth? Is It Possible That The Nerve Is Already Dead? Is It Safe to Leave A Tooth With a Dead Nerve? If The Nerve is Dead, Do I still Need a Crown? Doesn't The Nerve Always Recover? Why Do Teeth Crack? Cracked tooth syndrome is a very common problem usually affecting teeth that have large amalgam (silver) fillings. Large fillings weaken the remaining tooth structure. Like all materials, teeth are subject to forces of stress fatigue.  Will My Grinding Habit Make It Worse? Yes. Almost everyone, at some point in their life, grinds their teeth. Grinding can increase the stress and strain on a tooth by 200 to 300%, especially if you'...
Read more

Your Teeth Whitening Questions ... answered!

How can I make my teeth whiter? Bleaching or veneers are typically the best choice unless you have existing dental work. If you currently have crowns, you may have to have them replaced to whiten your smile. If you have bonding or tooth colored fillings, you may need to change them following bleaching.   Which bleaching method is the best? If your teeth are receptive to bleaching, all methods will eventually lighten your teeth to a similar result, though, some methods may take longer than others. The in-office treatments offered by your dentist will give you the quickest result. The tray method will also whiten your teeth over a longer period of time (generally about 2 weeks). Are there any reasons I shouldn't bleach my teeth? Yes. You shouldn't bleach your teeth if your pregnant, nursing, or have any infections related to your teeth or gums. You might also consider avoiding bleaching if you have excessively sensitive teeth.  So, How long ...
Read more

Nocturnal Bruxism and Nightguards

Teeth Grinding  Wearing of the chewing surfaces if your teeth occurs normally throughout life at a slow pace. Just the friction of the upper and lower teeth moving against one another wears away your enamel. You don't notice it because it is such as low process. Though, you might notice that the biting surfaces if your lower incisors appear more yellow than they used to. Depending on your age, the yellow you are looking at is probably dentin (the layer under enamel). You may have also noticed that your upper front teeth are beginning to chip.  The normal process of attrition can become greatly accelerated if your teeth don't fit together properly. In other words, if your normal bite is off to one side and not evenly balanced with the teeth interlocking, you can have problems with excessive loss of tooth structure. One out of every four adults falls into this category a some level. Grinding and clenching are usually a physical manifestation of stress. It occurs at nigh...
Read more