Clean teeth provide essential help in preventing cavities and many other oral diseases, and from the time most of us are kids, we’re told to brush our teeth to achieve it. According to statistics, many people struggle to brush enough; 53% of Americans do it for less than half the time recommended by dentists (up to 70 seconds).
To make matters worse, we also floss far less than we brush, with only 30% of us doing it daily, and 32% not doing it at all. When it comes to home dental care, flossing is also a vital part of keeping teeth clean, and to understand why, we need to look at what it does that brushing can’t, and how to do it the right way.
Residents of the East Village, Manhattan, New York, area looking for tips for proper home dental care, including brushing and flossing, can rely on Dr. Adam Nusblatt and the dedicated Nusblatt Dental team for help.
This thin, threadlike material, frequently made of coated nylon (waxed or unwaxed), removes food and particles from between teeth, which is done traditionally by holding it between your fingers and moving the thread up and down, forcing unwanted stuff out.
Containers carrying the standard floss allow you to cut it to the length you need, but there are variations like floss picks, which allow you to do it with one hand, placing the floss in a plastic holder. Water flossers and super floss (made of a spongy material and a floss threader) are different forms that allow you to reach the same parts of your teeth.
Brushing is important to remove bacteria, food, sugars, tartar, and plaque from teeth, but it can only reach specific areas of the tooth surface. This means surfaces of teeth like the front (facial, labial, or buccal), back (lingual), and top (occlusal) of teeth get clean, but not the spaces in between, where particles build up. Flossing plays a vital role in reaching areas you can’t brush.
Combining brushing and flossing increases your chances of keeping harmful bacteria and other particles from leading to gingivitis, gum disease, and cavities, and reduces the risk of infections leading to complications like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis over time.
If you’re cutting strands of floss to work with, here’s how to use it between teeth:
Repeat the process for each tooth, and apply the logic of these instructions for other flossing devices you choose to use. Specifically, this means gently placing the device between teeth, and getting a gradual up and down motion to be effective.
Brushing and flossing combine to reduce the risk of dental problems. For all questions and concerns about dental home care, contact Dr. Nusblatt and Nusblatt Dental today.
