Why is Flossing so Important?

Most people are aware of the need to brush twice daily but are not aware how important it is to incorporate flossing into their daily routine. Decay usually happens at the contact area between teeth. Food & plaque gets caught in this area.

Tooth brushing alone is not effective in removing plaque from between teeth. If you floss after you have brushed your teeth you will quickly see what your toothbrush has left behind.

Flossing is an essential part of a good daily oral hygiene routine. With the right technique & a little practice, flossing should take between 60-90 seconds to do. Once daily is enough. Most of us, no matter how busy, can find this time.

The Correct Flossing Technique

1. Start with a long piece of floss, 30cm is ideal.

2. Wrap the floss around your middle & ring finger or alternatively around the back three fingers.

3. Use the index finger and thumb of both hands to work floss between the teeth.

4. Work the floss down to the gum line & simply wipe it against each tooth.

If your gums bleed when you begin flossing, most likely your gums are inflamed by the build up of plaque between your teeth. If you floss daily for 2 weeks the bleeding should stop. If it continues beyond this time it could be a symptom of a deeper problem-periodontitis. Please make an appointment to have your gums properly examined.

Some people are resistant to flossing as they are concerned that they may pull out a filling. If you manage to pull out a filling while flossing, chances are the filling was defective. A loose, defective filling won’t stop bacteria getting under the filling but will prevent the toothbrush effectively cleaning the area. A loose filling is better out than in!

What Age Should I Start Flossing?

Flossing should start as soon as there is contact between any of the baby teeth. This typically occurs at around age 4. Obviously at this age, children are not capable of flossing effectively. Parents should floss their children’s teeth until they are capable of doing a good job themselves. For most children this would be around age 9 or 10.

Contact your Beenleigh Dentist today!

Alex Bratic Dental Care is conveniently located on City Road at Beenleigh. We are close to transport and our onsite parking is free and very easy to access.

For all Health Fund Members our HICAPS facility enables payments to be processed at the time of the appointment, which means members, are only required to pay the difference between the charged fee & the Health Fund Rebate (gap fee).

Contact us on (07) 3287 2627 or simply book your appointment online.