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Most dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Unfortunately, only about 30% of the population flosses daily, with 32% never flossing at all. This should be an important part of your oral hygiene regimen, so learn more about its purpose and proper technique below.

Why Should You Floss?

Although brushing your teeth is an important way to remove plaque, it shouldn’t work alone. Flossing removes plaque and excess food particles from between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach.

Additionally, while some people choose not to floss because their gums bleed, flossing is actually how you eliminate bleeding gums. In one study, dentists found that people who flossed twice a day for two weeks had 38% fewer bleeding gum areas.

dentistFlossing daily also protects against gingivitis and periodontal disease, which may lessen your chance of a heart attack, since having gum disease increases the chances of having a first heart attack by 28%.

How Do You Floss Correctly?

While flossing is important, you need to floss correctly to get the maximum benefits. Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to floss, although it may take less time once you get the hang of it, and stand in front of a mirror so you can make sure the floss goes where it needs to.

Next, take about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around both of your middle fingers until you only have about one to two inches available. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, and press it between your teeth gently. Then, move the floss up and down, hitting the sides of both teeth in an upside-down U shape. Move on to the next tooth and continue until you’ve flossed between all of them.

Make sure to advance the floss forward, so you’re using clean dental floss the whole time, and ask your dentist to demonstrate at your next visit if you still need help.

 

If you’re due for a professional cleaning, head to James Julien DDS in Kenai, AK. This skilled team is committed to providing comfortable, customized care for every patient. They offer regular cleanings and checkups, as well as implants, teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, and emergency surgery. Visit their website to learn more about their services, or call (907) 283-4857 to schedule an appointment today.

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