Why do I need to floss?
When you visit the dentist we are always telling you to clean between your teeth, but why do you need to do this?
Did you know that between the teeth makes up 30% of the tooth surface?
Cleaning between your teeth is just as important as brushing your teeth. This is because plaque and food debris get trapped between your teeth and can cause problems such as gum disease and tooth decay. Many of the problems we see here as dental professionals are between the teeth, so we always tell you to floss, floss, floss!
Now while flossing is perfect for very tight spaces and contact points, most of us have spaces big enough to use interdental brushes too (such as Tepe). These brushes come in many sizes, so it is important to choose one which gives a snug fit. Most people have at least two sizes to suit their teeth.
The cleaning routine we advise is as follows:
- Brush your teeth for 2 minutes using fluoride toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush is doing a lot of the brushing for you, so you don’t need to ‘scrub’ like a manual. The best way is to move the brush from tooth to tooth, counting 4 seconds for each tooth. Make sure you are touching the gum line, as this is where plaque sits.
- After brushing and while there is still some toothpaste in the mouth, go around with the Tepe brushes, starting with the biggest size first.
- Then you can floss! Use a sawing motion up and down each tooth rather than flicking the floss in and out.
This oral health education is included in your hygienist appointments, we will even advise you of the right size Tepe to use. To book an appointment please call us on 01844 343381 or visit our dental surgery in Buckinghamshire. We see patients from Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Thame, High Wycombe, Wendover and the surrounding areas.
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