Dentist Antioch Why You NEED to Floss

Antioch, CA Dentist Explains the Significance of Flossing

It’s no secret that flossing is recommended by dentists everywhere and your Antioch dentists Dr. Abdou, Dr. Wu, Dr. Marasco, and Dr. Khomjani are no exceptions. As you fumble with your floss, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Why can’t I just brush my teeth and call it a day already?” Well, there’s a good reason for that.

 

Your toothbrush is limited

 

Each tooth has 5 surfaces. Your toothbrush can only clean 3 of those surfaces. The other two surfaces, if you don’t floss, go untreated and are susceptible to tooth decay. The only way to clean those areas is to floss regularly and to floss correctly.  The start of cavities, failures in your dental crowns or veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry treatments typically stem from the lack of flossing.

 

Flossing and your health

Flossing isn’t just a thing you do so your Antioch family and cosmetic dentist is happy. Flossing is a routine that helps protect your beautiful smile and overall health. As mentioned earlier, an oral hygiene routine that solely focuses on brushing your teeth is flawed and can lead to several health issues that were are easily prevented by taking the extra five to ten minutes of your day to floss.

 

Food that is lodged between teeth and in the small crevices of your mouth can lead to plaque buildup. This buildup, if not properly cleaned, can lead to serious health issues such as tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis. There have also been reports of plaque exacerbating heart problems, pulmonary disease, and other systemic diseases.

The only way to prevent the buildup of plaque between your teeth is to floss regularly.

 

The proper way to floss
 

Your friendly Antioch family and cosmetic dentists recommend flossing your teeth every day with your brushing routine. Follow the steps below to correctly floss your teeth.

 

Flossing

 

  • Start with roughly 18” of dental floss with most of it wrapped around your middle finger in one hand and the rest around your other middle finger
  • Grasp the string tightly between your thumb and forefinger leaving about an inch, and use a rubbing motion to guide between your teeth
  • When you feel resistance, you’ve reached your gum line. Form a C and follow the shape of your tooth
  • Hold the string firmly against your tooth and move it gently up and down
  • Repeat this process with all of your other teeth, using fresh floss sections as you go.
  • Don’t forget about the teeth in the back of your mouth. Gum disease occurs most frequently in the back teeth.

 

To help pass the time during your daily brushing and flossing routine, turn on the radio or bring your phone into the bathroom. Music makes it fun!

 

For more oral hygiene tips or to make an appointment with an Antioch, CA dentist today, give us a call at 925-777-1719 or do it online by clicking here.