Do I really need to floss? A Surrey dentist explains
Yes, this helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Flossing helps clean in between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
Regular flossing can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease, cavities, and bad breath, ensuring your teeth stay strong and your gums stay healthy.
Left-and-right comparison of gums with gingivitis versus healthy gums
Step-by-step guide for flossing your teeth
How to floss the right away: Tips from our Surrey dentists
Even if your teeth feel clean, flossing is crucial to remove buildup in places that are often missed during brushing. Make sure to floss at least once a day, preferably before bedtime, to keep your mouth fresh and healthy.
Take about 50 centimetres of floss and wind most of the floss around each middle finger.
Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently between your teeth. Never snap the floss onto the gums.
Gently curve the floss around the base of one tooth. Use up-and-down motion, making sure you go beneath the gum line. Gently curve the floss around the other tooth and use the same technique.
Be sure to also floss at the back surfaces of the last molars.
Water flossers and air flossers: What we recommend in our Surrey dental clinic
Water flossers and air flossers are alternatives. They use a combination of air and water (or sometimes just air) to clean between your teeth and along the gumline.
Oral health benefits of the Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser, validated by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA):
Removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas
Up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string floss
Up to 2X effective for improving gum health around implants vs string floss
Up to 3X effective for removing plague around braces vs. string floss
Waterpik Cordless Water Flosser
How water and air flossers work
Pressure: These flossers use a burst of air, sometimes mixed with water, to generate a pulsating stream that targets the areas between your teeth. The pressure helps dislodge food particles and plaque buildup.
Technology: Inside the device, a small nozzle releases quick pulses of air or a mixture of air and water. These bursts are directed at the spaces between your teeth, where they help to remove debris and bacteria that are hard to reach with a regular toothbrush.
Ease of Use: The flosser typically has a small, handheld design that you position along the gumline. As you press the button, the device releases the air or water burst. You move the nozzle along your teeth, treating each space between them.
Benefits of water and air flossers
Convenience: They are easier to use for people who find traditional flossing difficult or uncomfortable, such as those with braces or limited dexterity.
Effective: Studies suggest that air flossers can help reduce plaque buildup and improve gum health, especially when used regularly.
Gentle: The air and water pulses are less abrasive than traditional flossing, making it a gentler option for people with sensitive gums.
Time-Saving: Air flossers are typically faster than traditional flossing, making it easier for people to stick to their oral hygiene routine.
Maintain your oral health: Visit our Surrey dental clinic today
Prioritize your oral health and discover the benefits of proper flossing and dental care by requesting an appointment with our experienced team of dental professionals at Panorama Place Dental Clinic.