This natural bacteria, when combined with saliva and food particles, creates plaque. Plaque is a substance that is clear and colorless substance but attaches to your teeth and provides a home for bacteria. The bacteria finds fertile ground in your plaque and begins to eat away at your tooth enamel which eventually leads to cavities.
This where flossing comes to the rescue. Flossing cleans the places that your toothbrush can’t easily reach in places like between your teeth, clearing away food particles and plaque. However, if you aren’t flossing correctly, you may not get the full benefit. As the old saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Flossing could be that ounce of prevention where tooth decay is concerned. Regular flossing could help you to avoid painful, time-consuming and potentially costly dental procedures that can become necessary when tooth decay is allowed to flourish unchecked between teeth.
Some patients choose to use floss picks to clean the gaps in their smile. These “Y” shaped pieces of plastic with floss strung between the “arms” of the “Y” are available at most stores. However, dentists would prefer if you used a length of “free” floss and your hands. Floss picks don’t allow for proper flossing due to the fact that you cannot wrap them around a tooth (see #3 above). However, it’s still better than neglecting to floss at all.
Many dentists feel that flossing after your brush is the best practice as there will already be less plaque and food particles to get stuck on the floss. If you have any additional questions about brushing, flossing or your oral health, call (843) 371-5480 or schedule an appointment online with a West Ashley Family dentist in Charleston SC today.
A bright white smile can light up a room and leave a lasting impression. To…
Are you dreaming of a flawless, movie-star smile? Porcelain veneers might just be the secret…
Root canals often carry a reputation for causing pain. In reality, they are a crucial…
Many people look for treatments and options to create a radiant and confident smile. As…
Dreaming of a straighter smile but hesitant about clunky metal braces? Enter veneers – a…
When we think about maintaining a healthy heart, we often focus on factors like diet,…