Flossing 101

Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth, yet in spite of this, many of us don’t take the extra time to do so. The difference between flossing and not flossing is a crucial one when it comes to your oral hygiene. Flossing should be more than an extra embellishment on top of brushing and mouthwash. It should be incorporated into your nightly brushing rituals for the best results.

What’s the Big Deal?

Flossing is more than simply removing chunks of food from between your teeth. The most important aspect of it is removing the layer of plaque that forms between teeth and along the gumline. Because both of these places are often hard to reach with toothbrushes, flossing is the easiest way to thoroughly remove plaque from all surfaces. Relying solely on the dentist for a deep cleaning just isn’t enough.

Advantages of Flossing

The benefits of flossing are numerous! Aside from its plaque removing ability that was already mentioned, flossing promotes healthy gums and prevents bacterial growth. Both these factors contribute to lowering your chance of developing gingivitis, or other much worse dental problems. Setting a good example for your children will encourage them to start flossing as well. This becomes even more important at their young age, where teeth are rapidly developing and changing. If you’re kids are finding it difficult to floss, take some time and help floss for them, or ask your dentist for kid-friendly flossing aids.

Types of Floss

There are so many different brands and types of floss that it can be overwhelming trying to find one to settle on. Flosses can come waxed or unwaxed, but this comes down to personal preference as either one works fine. You’ve probably heard of some companies advertising their “super floss”, where the floss is woven using lots of tiny fibers instead of being one long string. These can be helpful for filling in the gap between teeth or wires if you have braces, but otherwise the regular variant works just as fine. Finally, flavoured floss is also available for those who need a bit of extra motivation. Ultimately, it is the act of flossing that’s critical, so as long as you’re flossing just buy whichever brand you want!

Centennial Smiles is more than happy to help answer any other questions about flossing you may have. Give us a call at (587) 317-7959 or check out our website.