How to Tell When You Should Floss Your Teeth

Proper dental hygiene is vital for maintaining optimal oral health. Many people falsely believe that by simply brushing their teeth they have done all they need to do to promote dental health. But that is not true. While brushing can help to clean most areas of the teeth, gums, and tongue, the areas between the teeth require flossing to get rid of the plaque that often forms there. Any dental clinic or family dental facility will tell you the importance of flossing and the role it plays in protecting your teeth. It is a habit parents should encourage as soon as a child has teeth.

When to Floss
While many people recognize the importance of flossing their teeth, there is some confusion as to when is the right time to floss. Some say in the morning when you wake. Others say at night before you go to bed. Still others say you should floss after every meal. Any good family dental clinic will tell you the answer is all three. Ask your dental health professionals and they will explain that each time you floss you’re removing food particles, or bacteria, or some combination of the two.

Why You Should Floss
When you don’t floss regularly, plaque and food particles build up in between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Within hours, teeth can begin to stain, degrade, and suffer damage. While flossing your teeth once or twice a day can help to keep them clean, flossing after you eat plays an important role as well. Food particles left between your teeth can make your breath smell bad. Plus, it can promote tooth decay. Therefore, it’s wise to take a few minutes when you wake in the morning, after you eat, and before going to bed to use dental floss to remove food particles, plaque, and other types of detritus from between your teeth.

The High Cost Of Not Flossing

If you don’t take the time to floss regularly, it can hurt your personal and professional life and cost you money, pain, and heartache in the long run. Many people avoid people with bad breath and bad teeth. This makes it difficult to develop personal and business relationships. By the time you realize the cause of your bad breath and dental problems, solving them can be expensive and force you to endure painful dental procedures. The heartache comes when you begin to realize how much failing to floss regularly has cost you personally and professionally.

If you need additional information about the relationship between regular flossing and dental health, visit us today at the Ohana Dental Clinic at 905.697.3440. We will provide you with the oral health information and dental services you need.