Everybody has heard from their dentist and hygienist to brush their teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and to floss daily. Most of us have heard it at nausea and dread the dentist asking if we floss. At Central Park Dental Aesthetics, we believe in a strong preventive approach to healthcare and believe that a healthy body starts with a healthy mouth. Flossing is just as important (if not more important) than a balanced diet and exercise. Flossing brushes the portion of tooth that is covered by your gums. It removes the plaque and tartar from the gum pockets and reduces the bacteria load.
Without flossing, the bacteria and toxins in the gum pockets cause an inflammatory response in our gums. This causes our gums to swell, become red and sensitive and can be a source of bad breath and bleeding. Overtime, our bodies will recede away from the calculus causing bone loss and gum recession. The bone and the gums are the foundation to our mouths. If we lose the bone support, we will lose our teeth even if the teeth are healthy and cavity free!
Floss before you brush your teeth. Take a piece of floss (can be a piece of floss attached to your fingers or attached to plastic holders) and place it adjacent to your tooth. Rub the floss up and down alongside to the tooth to remove any plaque or debris. Make sure to get underneath the gums! Remember that each tooth contact has two sides to floss. Brushing will remove all the loosened bits from flossing. Repeat daily for a healthy bright smile!