It’s back to school time, and even when it’s not, teeth cleaning is an important part of a daily routine. If you visit your dentist regularly, and you should, you’ve probably heard him say “Floss the teeth you want to keep.”
Have you heard that? I have.
Photo Credit to Pink Sherbet Photography
Dental Floss Can Save Your Life – Buy Some
I used to floss my teeth about twice a week thinking that was good enough, but I constantly found myself with mild gingivitis. In case you didn’t know, gingivitis can kill you, literally. How? Gingivitis leads to heart disease. Yes, that sounds crazy, but it can.
If you love your family, buy some dental floss today and make sure everyone uses it.
No matter what age or how far apart your teeth are, food particles can get stuck. Many people are under the misconception of two things. First, that brushing removes all the food particles between your teeth. Second, that if they can’t see it, it isn’t there.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Brushing removes the surface debris and plaque from the tooth itself and can get a small portion of the gum line, but the bristles just can’t get below the gum line well enough to do the job right.
If you use dental floss properly, the floss gets deep below the gum line and removes any leftover food particles that brushing leaves behind.
When leftover particles are not removed, inflammation begins and leads to gingivitis, which can lead to heart disease, which can lead to death. Yes, that was a long way to put it, but dental floss can save your life. Be sure to teach your kids the proper way to use dental floss. Also, make sure to schedule regular teeth cleaning appointments with your dentist.
Kinds of Dental Floss
There are many different kinds of dental floss. Some are more fun and some are more expensive. The choice is yours, but just be sure to pick up some type for your family’s oral health.
- floss threaders, which are usually used by those with braces or other dental work
- floss picks, which are floss attached to a plastic holder for better gripping
- floss string, which allows you to choose the size of floss you need and is used by wrapping it around the fingers
- water flossers, which are more expensive but sure are fun to use
- ergonomic flossers, which often have swivel heads and are fancier than regular floss picks
Each comes in a variety of flavors and thicknesses. Some dental floss also contains fluoride or whitening agents, while others do not.
What is the best type of dental floss to use for maximum teeth cleaning? I once heard a professional say, “The best kind of dental floss is the kind that gets used.” So, be sure to use some today!
Heck yeah, floss. Super gross, but I realized how important flossing is the first time I brushed and then rinsed and then flossed… and then gave the floss a sniff. There is always stuff left over after brushing. That’s what floss is for!