As you’re getting ready to go to bed, like many, you probably feel the day’s weight on you and just want to crash into your bed and fall asleep. Wait! Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth! Also, equally as important, don’t forget to floss! It’s very important that you floss teeth. This act will ensure that you have better oral hygiene and will save you from oral disease headaches in the future. At Christian Johnson DMD, your expert Waldorf, MD cosmetic dentist Dr. Johnson is here to help you improve your oral habits and inform you on how to look out for your overall health.
Why Does Flossing Your Teeth Accomplish?
As previously stated, brushing your teeth is very important—it is, in fact, the first step to maintaining your good oral hygiene. Unfortunately, your teeth aren’t able to be fully cleaned by the bristles of your toothbrush. The head of a toothbrush is designed to mainly clean the exposed surface of your teeth. Yes, the bristles do slightly clean in the crevices between your teeth, but they simply can't fully reach the space in between teeth as well as into your gumline. This is where food will often get stuck (such as fibers from an apple or kernel from popped corn) which creates the perfect environment for oral bacteria and tooth decay to occur as the food particles start to deteriorate, rot, and break down. For this reason alone, you must floss.
How Often Should I Floss?
If you’re wondering how often you should be flossing—you’re not alone. While brushing your teeth can be recommended up to three to four times a day (usually after every meal), the same cannot be said for flossing. Too much flossing can actually irritate your gums and may cause unnecessary discomfort or even bleeding in your gums. Dental experts such as Dr. Johnson recommend to floss once daily. There’s not really a right or wrong time to floss, but in order to experience optimal results from your flossing, you should do so right before going to bed to remove any food particles left behind from your meals that day. Keep in mind that if you’re beginning to floss after you haven’t for a while, it's normal for your gums to bleed a little. Once you’ve established your daily flossing habit, the bleeding will subside. If you find that the bleeding occurs every day consecutively for more than a week, please schedule a dental appointment right away as this could signify an oral disease.
Contact Our Friendly Staff To Schedule An Appointment, Today!
Learn the dos and don’ts of oral hygiene, including how important flossing your teeth and gums is from our friendly team here at Christian Johnson DMD. If you have any other questions about how to improve your overall oral health, you can call us at 301-645-3230 or you can schedule a consultation at our practice. If you’re visiting us for the first time, you can prepare yourself by learning what to expect at your first visit, here. Hope to see you soon!