33 Abbey Parade, Wimbledon, London SW19 1DG
33 Abbey Parade, Wimbledon, London SW19 1DG
We are all accustomed to brushing regularly and we know that we have to do this to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Most of us will brush our teeth twice a day and it is quite likely that we may think that we have done our bit for our teeth and that brushing is enough. Many of us don't realise that in order to have a healthy mouth flossing has to be an additional and essential part of any dental routine. Studies have shown that if your mouth is healthy you can make a positive impact on your overall health. Our dentist in Wimbledon shows you why flossing is so vital and how to floss your teeth properly.
The simple truth is that brushing on its own will not be enough to keep teeth healthy. Flossing needs to be part of your daily routine as well, and once you start to floss and brush on a regular basis, you will soon notice how much cleaner and fresher your mouth feels.
The reason that brushing alone is not enough is because plaque can be present in between the teeth, and if it is left to its own devices it will slowly ruin your gums. Flossing will allow you to get into those small plaque hiding spaces and remove the plaque before it becomes problematic. Dentists will recommend that you floss before you brush to loosen plaque. The bottom line is that if you don’t floss regularly, tartar will build up in between your teeth, and that will lead to gingivitis, the first state of gum disease. Untreated gingivitis will lead to periodontitis. This is a much more severe form of gum disease and will lead to bone and tooth loss.
And what you might not know is that flossing might actually save you money because by flossing regularly, dental visits may only be necessary for a yearly cleaning.
As far as general health is concerned, studies have shows that diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth can, over time, lead to other diseases in the body, such as heart disease and even diabetes.
While it's very important to floss every day, even several times a day, it is also important that you have a good quality toothbrush. Do your homework and don’t go for the two for one offers in the chemist just to save money. It might end up costing you more in the long run.
Brush your teeth twice a day regularly and brush the surface of teeth, cheek-side and tongue.
Use a soft bristle toothbrush with a round head that can reach all parts of your teeth and replace them within 2 to 3 months or when the bristles get hard, whichever comes first.
You can use an electronic toothbrush as they are more effective than normal ones.
Do not use the brush vigorously, as it might cause damage to the enamel.
Brush your tongue as it will help in removing plaque that is the reason for bad breath and bacterial growth in mouth.
Flossing is an effective technique to get rid of any food particles from the mouth. While flossing use any of the below-mentioned techniques:
Circle method: Use 30 cm long floss and tie the ends together so as to form a loop.
Finger-wrap method: Use 40 to 45 cm long floss and wrap one end to your right middle finger and one end to left middle finger.
Brushing twice a day can help in breaking down plaque and reduce bacterial activity in your mouth
Using a dental floss regularly helps in removing tartar and plaque buildup from your mouth
Flossing helps in removing the small food particles that get stuck between teeth and give rise to tooth decay
Brushing and flossing will ensure that the results of teeth whitening treatment last for a long term
Flossing as often as you can, and certainly after you have eaten, will pay dividends and remember that by having a healthy mouth, you are giving yourself a much better chance of having a healthy body as well.
So these are the reasons why it really does make sense to floss, every day, several times per day and, if you can, after you have eaten. The money you could save on dental treatment and the added advantage to your general health make this the kind of routine that it makes perfect sense to adopt and keep going.
