As any dentist will confirm, flossing is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure good oral health. It removes trapped food particles between teeth, cleans the gum area of plaque, and reduces the likelihood of tooth decay and gingivitis (or gum disease). To help you keep your smile as bright as possible, below are some essential tips on flossing.

What Are the Best Ways to Floss? 

1. Floss Regularly

Ideally, you should floss after every meal. However, you may be on the go or at work after eating and simply don't have the time or tools to do so. You should at least floss every day, preferably before bedtime. This removes cavity-causing particles before you settle in for the night, and it cleans away gooey plaque before it can harden into tartar. Once it does, it takes a dentist pick to scrape the tooth clean.

2. Scrape the Tooth

Wrap the floss as far around the tooth as you can and move the floss up and down about five times. Then wrap it around the adjacent tooth and perform the same maneuver. Make sure you clean around the root as well as the middle. This is where food residue hides and attracts bacteria that can lead to inflammation. Gently work the floss below the gumline.

3. Use Traditional Floss

Traditional floss gives you better control and a greater reach than floss-pick combinations. Multifilament nylon floss may shred if you have tightly-spaced teeth, but you can purchase a PTFE monofilament alternative that many people find easier to use. It is more expensive, however. Water flossing helps remove bacteria, but it does not remove visible film or plaque as effectively as traditional flossing does.

Are you looking for a reliable dentist? Contact Coulee Family Dental in La Crosse, WI. They are locally owned, and all three dental partners grew up in the area. They specialize in teeth whitening, root canals, cavities, dental implants, crowns, and other family and cosmetic dentistry services. Learn more about them on their website or call (608) 782-3102 to make an appointment.