With the new year comes New Year’s Resolutions–dutifully made, and often forgotten by Valentine’s. Well, might we suggest a simple change you can make that doesn’t require much effort and is easy to last the whole year and longer? Take better care of your smile!
Of course, you already brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day (right?). But have you thought of brushing’s companion–flossing? Flossing should happen once a day for 2-3 minutes each time. It doesn’t matter if your brush first or floss first, as long as both get done.
Remember that the purpose of flossing is to clean all the areas of the mouth that toothbrushes cannot reach easily, including in between teeth and behind back molars. Use this knowledge to fuel your flossing technique. Clean all the way around each tooth, taking care to go all the way down to the gum line. Be gentle, as you do not want to cut the gum tissue.
It is very important that you go all the way around each tooth, as these areas are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria. Additionally, unsightly food particles can get caught in the crevices between teeth. Use a single-filament floss when you can, and never clean between your teeth with materials not approved by your dentist.
For more information, call Thomas G. Schleicher, DDS PLC in Colonial Heights, Virginia, at 804-526-0231. Dr. Tom G. Schleicher and our team are happy to help!