Flossing and Dental Hygiene - A Guide to Dental Floss
Flossing is an important part of a daily oral hygiene routine. We are all familiar with cleaning our teeth after every meal but are not so familiar with the idea of flossing them as well.
But flossing is just as important as brushing. Doing so means that plaque is removed from all areas of the teeth not just those which are reached with a toothbrush. A toothbrush works well but cannot remove particles of food between the teeth and keep those areas clean.
But what is a daily ‘oral routine?’
Daily oral routine
This is another name for the dental hygiene routine that you undertake on a daily basis. It basically means brushing your teeth twice a day or after every meal, flossing and using a mouthwash.
Following a regular routine will prevent the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It will also prevent bad breath (halitosis), ‘wobbly’teeth and an unattractive appearance caused by missing teeth.
It is a good idea to get into this habit from an early age. This means educating your children about the importance of dental hygiene and showing them the correct way of doing so. This includes reducing the number of sweet/sugary foods, brushing after every meal and visiting the dentist on a twice yearly basis.
Find out more about dental hygiene in our dental hygiene article.
Failure to adopt a dental hygiene routine can result in the following:
- Stained (yellow) teeth
- Swollen, bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
Start your dental hygiene routine by brushing your teeth, then flossing and finally, rinse away any debris with a mouthwash.
This may seem straightforward enough but if you are not sure what toothbrush is right for you, the best toothpaste to use or how to choose a good mouthwash then visit our accompanying guides:
Avoiding high sugar snacks, brushing and flossing daily, using a mouthwash and arranging a ‘scale and polish’ at your dentist’s surgery will help to ensure that your teeth remain in tip top condition.