Going to the dentist isn't any fun, but it is one of those things that just has to be done. For years, I fought the process and didn't go for my regular cleanings and in the end, it sure didn't pay to do so. I ended up spending ten times as much time in the chair and a boat-load of money in dental repairs. If you don't like going to the dentist, you can make it easier on yourself. This blog will show you a few tips that can help you improve the experience and get through the treatment without as much discomfort.
going to the dentist with less anxiety
Just Doing It Isn't Enough: Are You Flossing Correctly?
Jordan Arnold
All dentists recommend that you floss regularly, but just doing it isn't enough. It's possible to floss every day and still have poor oral health and gum disease if you don't use the right techniques. Whether you're planning to start flossing or already have a regular habit of doing so, read the checklist below to find out how to maximize the benefit of flossing.
Scrape Teeth
If your teeth are tightly spaced, chances are the floss is doing a good job of scraping the sides of your teeth to remove sticky plaque and biofilm that's full of the bacteria that causes plaque. However, if your teeth are spaced evenly or far apart, just quickly swiping with the floss may not be enough.
When you floss between your teeth, make a conscious effort to pull the floss up over the side of the right tooth, then the go back to the gumline and pull it up over the left tooth. Floss can't harm your teeth, so feel free to apply some pressure when you drag the floss up to make sure you're removing all of the plaque and bacteria build-up.
Gently Go Beneath Gumline
One common mistake flossers make is to not go beneath the gumline while flossing. Unfortunately, this means that you're not doing anything to remove the bacteria that can cause gum disease, and you're unlikely to reverse gum disease if you already have it.
When you floss down the side of a tooth, make sure to gently wiggle the floss beneath the surface of the tooth. Your floss should slightly disappear under the surface of your gums. It might be uncomfortable if you have gum disease, so be gentle. Bleeding is normal if you haven't been taking good care of your gums. Unlike your teeth, however, make sure to only use the lightest pressure so you don't accidentally cut the gum tissue with the floss.
Brush Afterwards
Some people prefer to floss after they brush their teeth, but it's not ideal to do so. Floss does a good job of breaking up debris and pulling up bacteria, but brushing your teeth is what gets rid of it. If you brush your teeth first, you could potentially have loose bacteria and plaque sitting on a different part of your teeth after flossing, which doesn't offer much of a benefit to your oral health.
In addition, if you currently use a water flosser, feel free to give your teeth and gums a rinse after using regular floss. Water flossers can help to flush away the debris and plaque that you've pulled out from under your gums, which can help to decrease gum disease.
Being dedicated to flossing is a tough task, but it's worth it. Flossing can help you to improve your oral health, reverse gingivitis, and reduce your risk of tooth loss later in life. Make sure you follow these steps to get the maximum benefit from flossing every time.
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