When most people think about their oral hygiene, brushing their pearly whites is often the first thing that comes to mind. But when it comes to protecting your teeth and gums from the likes of serious oral health issues, flossing daily is also one of the most important habits you can adopt. This remains true even if you have tooth restorations such as dental implants! So, if your New Year’s Resolution is to be better about flossing, you’ve made a wise commitment! Here’s more about why flossing daily is a necessary practice along with some tips for ensuring you’re able to keep up with it.
Why Flossing Matters
To put it shortly, brushing twice a day simply isn’t enough to keep plaque from building up on and between your teeth. When foods that are high in sugar and carbs get stuck on and between our teeth, the bacteria in our mouths turns these particles into acid, which then contributes to the buildup of plaque.
Flossing is essential because it helps to break up the plaque that has formed between your teeth in places that your toothbrush can’t reach. If this plaque isn’t removed, it’ll eventually harden into tartar and greatly increase your risk of diseases and infections, including cavities and gingivitis. Even if you have dental implants, which replace your teeth from roots-to-crown, flossing is still an important practice as the gums around your implants are still susceptible to problems, which in turn will expedite dental implant failure.
Staying on Top of Your Flossing Habit This New Year
Here are some useful tips to ensure that you’re properly flossing all throughout the New Year:
- Find a type of floss that you like using and keep plenty of it in stock. There are several types of floss that come in a variety of colors, flavors, and materials. You might also opt into using dental floss sticks or a water flosser.
- Keep your floss in numerous locations: the bathroom, your purse, your desk at work, or even next to your home computer. This will inevitably make it easier to floss regularly.
- Set reminders for yourself; a sticky note on your bathroom mirror or a popup reminder on your smartphone can keep you from being forgetful.
- Ensure you’re flossing properly – you won’t do your smile any favors if you’re rushing or being sloppy! Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers and gently glide it between your teeth using a rubbing motion (don’t snap the floss into the gums).
You might have several resolutions you’re hoping to tackle this New Year but stepping up your oral hygiene and flossing regularly is arguably one of the most important commitments you can make!
About the Practice
The team at Midtown Family Dentistry of Dallas is honored to serve patients and families in the area under the leadership of Dr. Zach Kingsberg and Dr. Sara Fallahi. Their practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatment options. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the practice through their website or over the phone for additional assistance: (469) 529-6016.