“Are you flossing?” Without a doubt, this would be the first question your dentist is going to ask when you visit for a regular check-up. Generally, many people are keen on the idea of brushing their teeth twice a day. However, this is not the case for flossing, as many try to duck out from it. But it is essential in order to keep and maintain healthy oral hygiene. Accordingly, if you don’t floss, you are missing more than one-third of your tooth surface. In addition, as it’s so important to floss daily, we offer some helpful tips to make the whole process easier and simply put you on a routine.
Be Generous When Flossing
The floss needs to be long enough. In fact, a short piece of floss can be hard to handle as it may slip off your fingers. Also, it is crucial to use a clean section of floss for each tooth. In order to floss correctly, you should hold it between the thumb and your forefingers and glide it between your teeth. Consider moving it back and forth to avoid contact with gums.
Floss After Eating & Drink When Eating
Of course, all of these may sound more of a hassle, but believe me, getting a little bit of debris out is much easier than dealing with it for an entire day. In fact, just a minute or two of flossing after eating can work wonders and lessen the growth of bacteria in your teeth. As for drinking, this would wash away particles as you eat without adding any sugar or bacteria to your teeth.
Be As Gentle As You Can
Always make sure you have enough time to floss your teeth. Indeed, this is a process that should be done steadily and slowly. In fact, going too hard can even cause discomfort. Furthermore, it can lead to gum bleeding. Also, it can wear down the enamel of your tooth. So please carefully and gently attend to the rough spots so you can see flossing’s effective results.
Set a Reminder
If flossing isn’t part of your regular routine, it may be hard to remember to do so. In addition, setting a reminder on your phone can be a good idea that makes it hard to forget. Another thing you can do is to time it up with another daily task that you do- like showering, brushing your teeth, etc.- so it won’t be forgettable.
Reward Yourself When You're Done!
Rewarding here doesn’t mean making a big deal out of it. So, help yourself get excited about flossing by rewarding yourself with something. For example, want to listen to your favourite music? Well, listen to it afterwards. Want to take your dog for a walk? Then don’t forget to floss beforehand. As time passes, you realize it’s no longer a task you are forced to do, and you’ve created a healthy habit.
In the End?
Finally, flossing is the best practice anyone can do to prevent dental diseases at bay. In detail, it removes the food particles that are stuck in between your teeth and keeps away dental diseases such as calculus gingivitis. Also, this process protects you from cavities and prevents bad breath in the long run.
