Dental hygiene is an extremely important part of your overall health. Proper diet and nutrition helps your to keep your health and your teeth are critical to chewing food so that you can digest and allow your body to utilize the nutrients. Regular check-ups with your dentist can prevent tooth decay from becoming problematic. If you are suffering an illness or condition, it may be evidenced through your dental health. Flossing is a simple way to ensure that you keep your teeth healthy. At a minimum, flossing every 24 hours helps to keep your teeth clean and prevent bacterial build-up and the eventual break-down of your overall dental health. If you think that brushing or using mouthwash alone is enough, think again. Some people think that the combination of brushing and using a mouthwash is just as effective as flossing, but this isn't true. Doing all three (mouthwash, brushing and flossing) in combination is definitely your best bet but if you are only going to do two things, choose to floss and brush.
What to Look for
A variety of floss is available: Teflon coated, waxed, unwaxed, tape, floss holder or the type that increases in size with absorption. Deciding which type to use is really a personal matter and depends upon your dental health issues. Individuals with arthritis or children sometimes find the dental holder or tape easier to manipulate then floss. There are others who swear by the type that enlarges when it gets between the teeth. For those with a significant amount of dental work, the unwaxed floss may tend to break off and stick between the teeth so the waxed or coated floss seems to work a little easier for those with a fair amount of fillings, caps or crowns. Floss comes in tubes or easily portable containers, so you can go to a bathroom anywhere and floss. The flexibility of the floss allows you to reach places a toothpick won't go.
Common Pitfalls
Plaque develops as a result of food particles, bacteria and saliva building up around or between the tooth. If you do not remove the plaque from your teeth within approximately 24 hours, it forms calculus (hardened substance from plaque). When you go in for your dental cleaning, the hygienists have to use the metal tool to scrape and remove calculus. Even through flossing isn't always convenient, it is a lot less uncomfortable the having your teeth scraped. Initially, your gums may bleed until they toughen, but this doesn't take too long. It is worth tolerating the small amount of bleeding or gum discomfort until you get used to flossing. The removal of unhealthy bacteria just may prevent cavities from forming, which if left unattended for too long may result in a root canal or the need to remove the tooth. You might want to try a variety of floss products to decide which is the best for you. Finding the correct floss is simply a matter of choice; the main issue is getting the plaque off the the teeth.
