Why You Should Floss Your Teeth Daily

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Why should I use floss? This is a question asked by teeth-brushers all over the globe. If you brush your teeth every day, twice a day and even rinse your mouth with stinging mouthwash every now and again, what else is left for floss to do? After buying that expensive toothbrush slash tongue and cheek cleaner with extended bristles, you really don't want to hear that it's not enough and actually you should spend a little more cash on dental floss. On the good side though, it is generally inexpensive and accessible to everyone; but this still doesn't answer the question 'why' does it?

Well simply put, although your toothbrush does a great job at removing plaque from the front and the back of your teeth, it can't reach in between your teeth. Sadly, plaque doesn't need a huge surface to start chewing through the protective enamel of your teeth and the space between your teeth is the perfect place for bacteria to grow without any disturbance - especially when you don't floss.

Track back. Oral Hygiene

For those of you that don't know, the whole point of brushing your teeth is not only to get rid of your funky morning breath but mainly to remove harmful bacteria that will eventually turn into damaging plaque. Bad oral hygiene causes plaque build-up on your teeth which slowly eats away at the enamel (protective shell) around your teeth. Plaque can also breakdown the bone structure supporting your tooth which eventually leads to periodontal diseases like Gingivitis which leads to Periodontitis.

The last thing you want to hear is that you've got gingivitis when you know you have been brushing your teeth daily. Flossing daily will improve your oral hygiene and ensure you don't get caught off guard.

How to use dental floss

The soft, often silk thread that floss is made of is typically packaged in a small container which holds the reel of floss. Buy the one that you prefer from a choice of waxed, unwaxed, flavoured and unflavoured options. Once you've bought it the next step is to get to flossing. If your local dentist hasn't shown you how to do it correctly, there should be instructions on the packaging. If not here are five things to note when flossing:

Take about 45cm of floss and rap the majority of it around your middle finger on one hand and the rest on your other middle finger.Use your index finger and thumb to grip it leaving 1 to 2 inches of floss to use on each tooth.Use a gentle back and forth motion to get the thread between your teeth and then move the thread in an up and down motion to scrape away the plaque. Floss the back of your teeth as well.Be careful not to damage your gums by pressing it down too hard.Make sure you unwind a clean section of floss for each gap you floss. As you go along you can wind the used floss onto your other middle finger.If you gums start bleeding when flossing don't be alarmed. This may be because your gums are tender or you have a slight infection. Continue brushing and flossing daily and the bleeding should stop in a few days. If the bleeding continues for an extended period visit your local dentist for a check-up.