When it comes to dental hygiene basics, we know there is a three-step process for optimal dental health – dental hygiene, healthy diet and regular dental visits for checkups. We may need a dental professional when something goes wrong, but it is up to us to keep up their maintenance. After all, you want to preserve your smile for as long as possible. And of all of the dental tasks we love to avoid, it’s definitely flossing, but it’s something that is just as necessary as every other step.
When we begin and end our day, it is important that we give our mouths a good cleaning, not only to get all of the food particles that may be stuck in our smile, but to keep our smiles healthy and free from issues like gum disease.
Flossing isn’t a new thing. In fact, flossing began in ancient China. They didn’t use the floss that we’ve come to know, but horse hairs. To be fair, what you use for floss isn’t point; the importance of flossing is to help aid your brushing efforts. Just like mouthwash can rinse out stuck particles, flossing gets those hard-to-reach areas in your mouth your toothbrush has trouble reaching. The cleaner your mouth is, the less chance dental issues may arise.
Now that you know the basics, here is a step-by-step guide to proper flossing: Cut yourself a piece of floss about 18 inches long and wrap both sides around your fingers. Pull it taut between your thumb and index finger and guide the floss in between each tooth in a gentle zigzag motion to gently scrub down all the spaces between your teeth.
For more information about flossing, call Dr. Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.
Dr. Sandip Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.