3 Secrets to Make Flossing Simpler
We all know the importance of flossing in keeping our teeth in top condition. Like brushing your teeth regularly, flossing daily helps remove the food particles that are stuck in between your teeth, thus helps prevent the buildup of plaque, bad breath, and gum disease. Unfortunately, many people tend to skip flossing for two reasons — one, they think that brushing their teeth is already enough preventative care, and two, it can be a tedious experience.
If you are also struggling with flossing your teeth, here are the 3 secrets that can help make your routine flossing simpler.
- Choose the right floss
One of the reasons why we tend to skip flossing is because we don’t like the feeling of having our gums bleed when we floss. Bleeding gums is normal for the initial days of flossing, it will also stop as your gums get accustomed to the floss. If your gums bleed every time you floss, then you might not have picked the right floss for you. There are different types of floss depending on which part of the dental cavity you are using them. Waxy floss is best to use in the front teeth since it is durable enough to get into the tiny spaces in between the teeth without breaking. You can also use a non-waxed floss if you want to make sure that even the plaques from the hard to reach spaces in between your teeth are totally removed. Non-waxed are more prone to breakage yet it can also get into even tinier spaces in between the teeth.
- Floss gently
Your gums are made of soft tissues that can easily get injured so make sure to floss gently every time. Rubbing too hard could remove the plaque but it can also damage your gum tissues resulting in bleeding and wearing out your tooth enamel. Constant aggressive flossing will cause trauma to your gums and may lead to serious gum diseases. To make your flossing simpler and less painful, move the floss in between your teeth slowly and gently paying more attention to the food particles that you want to remove without hurting your gums.
- Floss correctly
Like any other activities, there is a technique in making your routine flossing more comfortable and simpler. The proper way of flossing should not be painful. When flossing, hold your floss firmly and angle it away from your gumline while making sure that it can thoroughly clean the in between your teeth. Glide the floss back and forth and upward.
Lastly, floss daily. While flossing can be uncomfortable at first, the experience will get better each time. If it helps, you can try other flossing devices such as power flossing and water flossing. These two devices can clean your teeth as thoroughly as the traditional floss stick minus the poking and bleeding of the gums. To help you decide on which type of floss is best for your teeth, talk to your dentist about your flossing options.
Dental Cleanings: An Essential Part Of Your Self Care Routine
Getting that healthy, pearly white smile can be easy – only if you take dental cleaning as an essential part of your self-care routine. Caring for your teeth takes more than just brushing it twice a day or flossing daily. Sure, it does keep your teeth healthy but in order for you to ensure your teeth’s health and possibly prevent dental problems in the future, you need to visit your dentist and do regular dental cleaning.
Dental Cleaning
While you can clean your teeth at home through brushing and flossing, regular dental cleanings with your dentist can improve your dental health. Going to the dentist for dental cleaning might be uncomfortable for some people but as you grow older, you will realize that a regular visit will help you maintain your healthy, bright smile. Here are some benefits of getting dental cleaning regularly.
Prevent Cavities
Got a toothache? It’s probably because of the plaque buildup on your teeth, causing tooth decay. When you eat acidic food or beverages, the acid stays on your teeth especially if you don’t brush afterward. The acidic substances will eat away your tooth’s protective layer which is the tooth enamel. When left untreated, it can lead to cavities. Plaque buildup can be prevented by frequent brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings.
Prevent Tooth Loss
There is nothing more disappointing than losing a tooth or two. This problem starts with plaque buildup. Gum disease is another major cause of tooth loss, especially in adults. Gum diseases can be treated with a regular dental cleaning and doing good oral hygiene at home.
Preventative Maintenance
Regular dental cleanings allow your dentist to look at your teeth and check if they’re healthy or if there are any dental problems. Your dentist will be able to address the issue first before it can grow worse by treating it immediately, keeping your dental health at its best state.
Brightens Your Smile
There are certain foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, such as coffee, sodas, tea, fruit juices, and many others. A dental cleaning every now and then can help remove stains and make your teeth appear whiter and shinier.
Boost Your Overall Health
Good dental health doesn’t just make you more confident, it improves your overall health. Regular dental cleanings keep your teeth healthy and can also lower your risk of certain health conditions related to having poor dental hygiene such as heart diseases and diabetes. Plus, it can also keep your breath feeling fresh! When your teeth are thoroughly clean, it can prevent bad breath.
Failure to care for your oral health can cause dental problems. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Signs of a Cavity
A cavity is a common dental condition that affects almost everyone. According to a report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in 2011-2012, about 91% of Americans aged 20-64 years old had dental cavities in their permanent teeth. Moreover, 30% of this population has untreated cavities.
(more…)
What You Need to Know About Teeth Grinding
Do you wake up every morning and feel jaw pain? You start to wonder what causes it. Is it your tooth or your jaw muscle? When you feel sleepiness all throughout the day and jaw or face pain, it is more likely that you have a condition called bruxism or teeth grinding. Clenching or grinding occasionally is normal but when it happens regularly, it can cause damage to your teeth making you susceptible to a lot of oral health issues.
(more…)
If You’re An Athlete You Should Do These 4 Things To Protect Your Teeth
Playing sports is fun. It allows you to be active and develop your skills such as perseverance, teamwork, determination, discipline, and social skills. However, no matter how friendly the sport may be, one should still be aware of the potential injuries that he or she may get while playing. In fact, according to Stanford Children’s Health, more than 3.5 million injuries related to sports are being reported every year; and the majority of these are knocked out teeth.
(more…)
Best Ways to Keep Your Gums Healthy?
Gum diseases: How To Avoid?
How do gum diseases occur? Why does it go unnoticed? Gum disease will start when there is a plaque buildup under and along your gum line. Plaque is a sticky substance and it is damaging because it is filled with bacteria. This plaque is responsible for gum infections, which can lead to gum diseases and tooth decay. Although gum disease is usually painless, there are symptoms that you can take note such as:
(more…)
What Is a Dental Implant and Who Needs Them
Despite the advancements of technology for dental care, many of us will still suffer from tooth loss at some point in our life. In fact, 69% of adult Americans have lost at least one permanent tooth. Reasons can include having a tooth removed due to injury, decay or infection. However, if you lose teeth during your adult years, you don’t have to be toothless for the rest of your life, thanks to dental implants.
(more…)
Common Diseases That Causes Tooth Decay
A toothache is a pain that could be sharp, throbbing, passing or constant, in and around a tooth. One of the most common sources of a toothache is a decaying tooth. You may think that tooth decay is only caused by poor oral hygiene; but did you know that tooth decay could be a sign of other medical conditions? Here are the most common diseases that can cause tooth decay.
(more…)
Are Dental X-Rays Safe During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, you are excited about your little bundle of joy. This is the time when you should be more aware of your overall health including your dental health. When you schedule a dental checkup, you may be asked to do dental x-rays. Of course, because you are pregnant, you are worried if it is safe.
How Children’s Teeth Erupt and Fall Out
Having a child is a gift and a rewarding job. However, having children also allow the parents to experience some challenges especially during the teething process. A child may show irritability, experience fever as well as gastroenteritis. Often times, parents just wished the teething process will end only to find out that when a baby develops all his/her teeth, it will erupt and eventually, your child will lose them to be replaced with adult teeth. (more…)