Are You Flossing Correctly? It Can Help Keep Your Mouth Nice and Clean

Brushing and flossing your teeth go hand-in-hand. They’re like best friends who can never separate from each other. Though it usually falls by the wayside, flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. Think about what you ate the previous night. Brushing the following morning does help rid your teeth of plaque and other harmful bacteria, but the bristles are too big and not durable enough to get in between teeth and remove foot particles and other bacteria that’s lodged. Choosing not to floss or doing it incorrectly can leave these food particles stuck and left to rot. This can cause all sorts of problems and lead to disease.

At our office in Syracuse, NY, we hold general dentistry practices in very high regard. Great dental hygiene starts at home. We can help keep your oral health in great shape by asking you to come in for a regular checkup, but at the end of the day, what you do and don’t do at home will determine how healthy your oral health remains. If you need a refresher on proper flossing technique, we’d love to help! We have the Syracuse dentists you’re looking for.

Flossing – Are You Doing It Right?

The look and feel of a clean mouth is wonderful. Flossing can help you achieve a clean mouth but only if you’re doing it correctly. First of all, are you spending at least 3-4 minutes brushing and flossing? If you aren’t, we suggest doing that first. Brushing and flossing along to your favorite song or T.V. show will help the time pass by much more quickly.

Just like brushing, there is a right and wrong way to floss. If you’re not really getting in there underneath the gumline and digging into each crevice, you’re doing it wrong. You need to get rid of harmful bacteria and food particles that a toothbrush can’t reach. Below are some helpful tips on flossing properly:

• Stretch 18 inches worth of floss out and wrap it around both of your index fingers. If you’d rather use different fingers, that’s okay, just be sure they’re strong enough to get the job done.
• Leave one to two inches of length between your fingers so you have room to work with.
• Move across each tooth gently, hitting each surface. If you notice any bleeding, this is normal.
• Use up-and-down motions when sliding across and in between teeth. Don’t forget the underside of your gumline – this is where bacteria congregates.

By switching up your flossing routine, you’ll notice results that will help keep your mouth feeling fresh and clean.

Visit Our Office For Help

If you still need help with your flossing routine, don’t be afraid to ask us for further help. Flossing is just as important as brushing, and having a technique down pat that encourages excellent oral health is what you want. Visit our office in Syracuse, NY to receive the best dental care around. We also invite patients that live in Manlius, Westvale and Fairmount.