I’m a hygienist and here’s the 4 ways I can tell you’re not flossing enough
WE all know the importance of brushing our teeth, not only to help keep our teeth free from dirt and grime, but to help avoid gum disease.
But how high is flossing on your oral health agenda?
Anna Middleton, London Hygienist at Chelsea Dental Clinic, says you really shouldn’t forget to floss daily.
Oh and if you’re wondering whether you can brush not floss, or floss not brush, well Anna makes it pretty clear you can’t neglect either of these.
“Brushing only cleans three out of the five teeth surfaces; that’s why you need to floss.
“If you floss and don’t brush, you’re then only covering two of the teeth’s surfaces.”
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You wouldn’t just wash one side of your car, so why neglect parts of your teeth?
Flossing – whether with sticks or floss tape – removes plaque from between the teeth, where your brush can’t reach.
Not feeling like a floss? Anna reveals why it’s important, plus the pretty grim signs that prove you’re not a flosser…
The signs you’re not flossing, says Anna, are…
- Visibly red and inflamed gums
- Puffy looking gums
- Bad breath
- Visible plaque along the gum line and in between teeth. This is often a yellow and creamy colour
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The long term effects of forgetting to floss…
Whether you forget or simply can’t be bothered, swerving the floss is not a wise idea.
“In extreme cases, you could end up with tooth loss.
“Not flossing over time can also cause gaps between the teeth and recesses in the gums, making teeth appear long,” says Anna.
“Gum disease isn’t just about the gums, it’s also about the bone.”
She explains that as the gum tries to move away from the plaque and the irritant (such as food), so does the bone, which leads to tooth loss.
“Early signs of gum disease are red, bleeding puffy gums. This is gingivitis and it is treatable.
“When it starts to progress though, and you get gum and bone damage, that’s what we call periodontitis and that’s irreversible,” says Anna.
Although, you can stop periodontitis from progressing any further.
The floss for you
There’s an array of floss products out there.
“If you have space between the teeth, use the interdental brushes,” advises Anna.
“People who have good technique can use floss, or if your teeth are too tight, use string floss or floss sticks.”
She recommends a waxed floss as it doesn’t snag or tear.
“If you really don’t want to floss, try a water flosser. They can be helpful, but it’s not the gold standard,” says Anna.
Floss right
For a good floss, practice a gentle sawing action to let the floss slip through, wrap it tight in a c-shape against one side of the tooth surface, move it up and down below the gum a little, then pull and repeat on the other side.
“You need to create a bit of friction to remove the plaque as that’s where it is hiding,” says Anna.
Anna says that meat can often get lodged between teeth, while dried fruit is another common culprit that can get stuck in the fissures in the teeth.
Spot blood? Keep cleaning!
Anna recommends flossing once a day before bed.
“Even a couple of times a week is better than nothing,” she says.
“The most important thing is don’t ignore bleeding. People floss, see blood, and stop. If it’s bleeding, keep cleaning!”
Although the sight of blood can be alarming, it may be because food is lodged right down between your teeth and it needs to come out.
After one to two days, if the bleeding persists then make an appointment to see your dentist.
How to brush best
Much like what we’ve always been told, twice daily brushes are advised.
But do you brush before or after breakfast?
“If you’ve had something acidic for breakfast, you want the fluoride from your toothpaste floating around in your mouth as it protects the teeth. So in these cases, brush before,” says Anna.
“I just have coffee and porridge so I brush my teeth after breakfast,” she adds.
“If you brush then eat, you can use mouthwash.
“Alcohol can have a drying effect which disrupts the pH and increases the risk of decay so opt for an alcohol-free mouthwash.”
When you brush, be sure to devote two minutes for a full set of teeth.
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“The most important thing is to brush along the gum line and be mindful you’ve covered every bit of teeth and gum.
“Manual brushes should clean one or two teeth at a time, softly. If you’re using an electric brush, let the brush glide over the teeth gently.”