London Dentists Know That Flossing Can Keep Your Gums In Great Working Order
Good oral hygiene is the best way to keep the teeth strong and the gums healthy. If you brush your teeth night and day and take the time to floss on a regular basis, your chances of suffering from toothache, cavities and gum disease, will be significantly lower.
Most people are aware of the importance of brushing their teeth, but flossing seems to be perceived as less important. In fact, flossing is essential for good oral health because it takes over from where brushing leaves off and targets parts of the mouth that cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush.
The importance of flossing
Flossing is a really effective way of giving your mouth a thorough clean in tandem with brushing. Once you have brushed your teeth, you will probably have removed most of the food debris from your mouth, but there may still be some plaque and bits of food lurking. Flossing enables you to clean the gaps between your teeth and the gum line, which are difficult to reach with your toothbrush, meaning that you can cover all areas of your mouth. Effective cleaning reduces the risk of plaque formation. Plaque is a major cause of decay and gum disease.
How to floss
Flossing is very simple, but it can take a couple of attempts to get the hang of it. Cut off a piece of dental floss and then gently pass it through the cracks between your teeth. Use a fresh piece of floss for every tooth and run the floss along your gum line, at the very top of your top teeth and the bottom of the lower teeth. Don’t pull the floss, as this can damage your gums.
If you notice bleeding when you floss for the first time, this is probably nothing to worry about. However, if you floss on a regular basis and suddenly notice that your gums are bleeding, this may indicate that you have gum disease and you should contact your dentist to make an appointment.