Flossing is a very important part of a healthy dental hygiene routine—but so many people skimp on it, or skip it all together! Our Tinley Park dentists are here to help you jump-start your flossing routine, and make the most of your at-home dental care. Keep reading to learn more about how you can floss to the best of your ability!
The best time to floss is at night, right before you brush your teeth. When you floss you dislodge dental debris from your smile. Then, you can immediately brush this detritus away before you go to sleep.
Here are some quick notes on flossing technique:
- To get started, cut off one large strip of floss. Move down the strip of floss as you go from tooth to tooth, so that you are using a fresh portion of the strip of floss every time.
- Floss between all of your teeth—don’t skip!
- Move your piece of floss all of the way up and down the length of your tooth as go
- As you floss, also wiggle your piece of floss from side to side in order to clear away as much plaque as possible
Sometimes people notice some bleeding of the gum tissue when they start flossing again—this is normal. Just make sure that you are being gentle on your gum tissue as you floss.
We also get a lot of questions about what type of floss to use. There are many different flavors and textures on the market today, and for the most part, they’ll all get the job done. The key is just to find a type of floss that is enjoyable for you to use; the floss should be a width that fits comfortably between all of your teeth.
If you have additional questions about flossing, our Tinley Park dental team is happy to speak with you!