Flossing is one of the most essential actions everyone should take to maintain their dental health. The American Dental Association has recommended that people floss their teeth every day for optimal health.
Flossing helps you to get to the hard to reach places between the teeth to remove any food particles and ensure that you have a perfect smile. However, if you want to get the benefits that come with flossing, you have got to do it right. There are some common mistakes people tend to make while flossing which negatively impact their teeth. Here are a few you should keep an eye out for:
Flossing Too Much
Although you should floss every day, doing it multiple times per day might be detrimental to your oral health. When you floss too often you risk damaging gum tissue, which in the long run, increases gum sensitivity and makes it possible to get gum infections. It’s recommended you floss once per day after you brush your teeth. To have ample time to do this, you can do it right before bedtime.
Flossing Too Fast
Just like when brushing your teeth, you should take your time to floss your teeth. When you move too fast, chances are that you will miss some debris on your teeth and risk not eliminating all the tartar. Apart from removing food particles, flossing is crucial to remove the thin layer of plaque on the teeth and thus keeping cavities at bay. It’s important to take your time flossing each side of the teeth for better results.
Quitting When You See Blood
If you haven’t flossed in a while, it’s natural to see some blood when you start flossing again. When you have bleeding gums, it’s a sign that you might have some form of oral disease which is brought about by bacteria buildup and plaque. When you see this, don’t stop. Instead, make sure that you continue flossing. In the end, your gums will heal and no longer bleed.
Flossing is crucial to having great oral health. It helps out a lot since the toothbrush bristles can’t reach in between the teeth. However, when you do it, make sure that you do it right to get its full benefits.
