You may feel overwhelmed when you stop in the dental care aisle at the grocery store – there’s seemingly endless options for toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and other oral care products – so we want to share some information about dental floss, an often-overlooked, but nevertheless
essential, part of a superb preventive care routine.
Why You Should Floss Every Day
Even if you are diligent about brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes each time, if you skip daily flossing you invite decay-causing bacteria to multiply in those nooks and crannies that a toothbrush just can’t reach. Daily flossing will remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and from below your gumline to help prevent gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and tooth loss!
Available Types of Floss
- Traditional String Floss
Traditional dental floss is simple, available almost everywhere, and fairly cheap, but it is an invaluable tool when it comes to keeping your teeth clean and healthy. Be sure to use a fresh part of the string between each tooth so you don’t just spread bacteria around. On the other hand, if you find traditional floss boring or hard to use correctly, there a few alternatives on the market.
- Floss Picks
Floss picks come pre-threaded with floss and are a quick, easy way to clean between your teeth when you’re on the go. However, if your teeth are extremely close together, you may have a tough time fitting the pick between your teeth. They’re relatively cheap and available at most stores that sell traditional floss, but keep in mind that you’ll probably need to use multiple picks during one flossing session to get a good clean.
- Water Flossing
If you’re looking to take your flossing experience to the next level or have difficulty maneuvering string floss, water flossing tools like the WaterPik, although more expensive, are an effective, high-tech way to care for your teeth! Remember to clean your machine regularly to remove any debris and deposits.
Our Recommendation
At Fort Bend Periodontics and Implantology, we believe that the most important part of choosing your floss is to get one you’ll actually use every day with proper technique. Wrapping a long piece of string floss around your fingers and threading it through your teeth does require some coordination and patience, so if a fancy appliance like a WaterPik inspires you to floss regularly, then fantastic! If the ease of using floss picks appeals to you, go for it. If you’re the kind of person who thinks, “If it isn’t broken, why fix it?” then traditional floss may be for you.
Ask Us How to Be a Flawless Flosser!
During your next visit, ask our team for a refresher on correct flossing technique to make sure you’re getting the full benefit of whatever flossing tool you choose. To ask us any other questions about how to improve your oral care routine or to schedule your next dental appointment, contact our Sugar Land dental office today!
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