For our patients who have been following recent reports posted by the Associated Press last month, you may have heard about the “lack of evidence” towards the benefits of flossing. However, Dr. Martinez and his dedicated team wholeheartedly believe in the importance of flossing, and believe it should continue to be apart of your oral hygiene routine. Especially for our patients with braces, flossing is key to ensure treatment progresses as planned, and you conclude with strong, health teeth.
What’s The Big Deal With Flossing?
Flossing is necessary part of your daily routine, in order to maintain the best oral hygiene possible. Dr. Martinez recommends flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash each and every day, to keep bacteria and plaque in the mouth at bay. This is absolutely critical for our patients with braces, since food can easily get lodged in between brackets and wires. Food that gets trapped in your mouth can eventually cause cavities, which make trips to the dentist less enjoyable.
Your orthodontist can also tell if you haven’t been flossing, as those who neglect flossing often experience puffy or bloody gums during appointments. Brushing can effectively clean the outer surfaces of your teeth, but flossing is critical to get to those hard-to-reach areas in between your teeth. Don’t make your visits to our office more painful and uncomfortable than they need to be!
Flossing is low-cost, low-risk, and not to mention - quick and easy, in relation to the time and money that could be spent later repairing the damage! This preventative aspect is exactly why your local dentist and orthodontist remind you after every visit to floss daily. Why not spend a minute or less to prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease down the road? Flossing has no risks, and the benefits are plentiful.
How To Floss Versus How Not To Floss
The few minutes of your day that you dedicate to flossing should not be painful. If your teeth feel sensitive and sore afterwards, you’re probably flossing too aggressively. If you’ve just started getting into the habit, you may experience slight bleeding and discomfort, but after about a few weeks, it will get much easier.
The optimal way to floss starts with approximately 18 inches of floss. After gripping the ends of the floss, you want to go one by one, up and down in between each tooth. Refrain from sawing down on your gums, as that is not as effective as simply scraping the plaque off the sides of your tooth, by using an up-down motion. After flossing once a day, we recommend you brush, and use mouthwash to get any remaining food particles or plaque.
Schedule A Consultation At Our Cincinnati Orthodontic Office!
If you have any questions about flossing, oral hygiene or any of our orthodontic services, give us a call at (513) 598-9800. All of our patients deserve only the best and brightest smiles, through careful and individualized treatment. Martinez Orthodontics offers metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign and more to patients in Cincinnati, Mack and surrounding areas. We look forward to seeing you soon!