Let’s break down the
benefits of flossing, what happens if you don’t floss, the proper way to floss
and some tips and tricks for remembering to add the important step to your
nighttime routine.
1. What are the benefits of flossing?
The
main benefit of flossing is the removal of plaque buildup between your teeth
and in the gingival sulcus. The plaque causes inflammation of the gingival and
can lead to periodontal disease in addition to caries between the teeth. This
is one of the most common areas of decay.
2. What happens when we don’t floss?
When we don’t floss the plaque between the teeth
and in the gingival sulcus continues to grow and release acidic byproducts that
cause caries and gingivitis
3. What is the biggest mistake you see when it
comes to flossing?
The
biggest mistake most people make is not flossing enough. But when they do floss
they need to make sure they wrap the floss around the tooth, and drag the floss
deep into the gingival sulcus. When patients see blood from flossing they tend
to not take the floss deep enough in the sulcus to get all of the plaque
removed or they stop flossing as much. When what they should be doing is actually
flossing more often. Another mistake I see patients make is skipping around the
mouth when they floss. It’s best to go from one side to the other to avoid
missing areas.
4. When should we floss?
Ideally,
the best time to floss is before bed. It’s always best to go to bed with the
cleanest teeth possible. When you sleep your saliva glands aren’t as active
leaving your mouth drier. The drier your mouth the higher the bacterial levels.
The higher bacterial levels result in more acid produced. You can floss before or after you brush. It
doesn’t matter. It should be once a day and if you can’t floss at night, my
motto is floss when you can. Some people floss on their commute to work. A good
time to floss is whenever you have time to floss.
5. Can gum disease lead to heart disease?
There aren’t any studies
that show a direct causal relationship, but there is a strong link between
chronic inflammation and heart disease. And there are studies showing that many of the patients with heart disease have
experienced gingivitis and/or periodontal disease. Also, some scientists theorize that as bacterial
levels increase, as with gum disease, the bacteria could be entering the
bloodstream, adhering to the walls of blood vessels and causing plaque
formation and eventually clots.
6. What are some
easy ways we can remember to add flossing to our nighttime routine? (Easy tips
and tricks)
The key to starting a habit is making it as easy
as possible to do. I would recommend having the floss that you like at the
ready. Set it next to your toothbrush. Most people brush their teeth before bed.
Try flossing before you brush. Make an effort/habit of flossing before you
brush, almost as a prerequisite before you’re allowed to brush. Some other
things you can do is set a nightly reminder on your phone, or place a simple
sticky note on your bathroom mirror reminding you to floss. Usually, after you
do something repetitively for 3-4 weeks you can establish a habit, good or bad.
7. Do you recommend
regular floss, dental picks or pre-threaded flossers? Is there anything we
should know about the different kinds of dental floss (waxed, unwaxed, thick or
comfort floss?)
The best floss is the floss that you like to
use. There are basically two types of floss, waxed and non-waxed. Studies show
that there is no difference in the ability to remove plaque and prevent decay
and gingivitis.
8. Can mouthwashes
and rinses take the place of daily flossing?
No, plaque can only be removed by physically
removing it off of the teeth. Plaque is very sticky and cannot be removed by a
liquid. Even using a WaterPik cannot remove all of the plaque unless turned up
to a level that may cause damage to the gingiva. Some mouthrinses can kill the
surface bacteria, but not the bacteria that make up the bulk of the plaque.
