Inside of your mouth are hundreds of bacteria which can cause bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems with your health. These bacteria can be harmful, but you can protect yourself by maintaining an oral hygiene routine where you clean your mouth with a toothbrush. Flossing is also an essential part of this routine, cleaning between the teeth and up near the gums.
Flossing actually cleans 40% of tooth surface and is a huge factor in preventing the development of gum disease. Flossing becomes even more effective when you do it correctly by following these steps:
- Pull out 18 inches of floss.
- Wind the majority of the floss around one of your middle fingers and some around the other.
- Pinch an inch of floss between your thumb and forefinger.
- Carefully rub the floss back and forth between your teeth until you have reached the gum line.
- Curve the floss into a C-shape and slide it between the gum and the tooth.
- Clean the neighboring tooth.
- After unwinding new floss and winding up dirty floss, start to clean between the other teeth in your mouth by following the above steps.
We invite you to call Isle Smile if you want to learn more about how flossing can protect and improve your dental health.