Breaking News! Flossing Prevents Tartar Buildup

Tartar forms when plaque is left unattended. Flossing helps us reach those tough spots between the teeth.

Why Floss?

Flossing is as crucial as brushing in maintaining good oral hygiene. While brushing twice a day is mandatory, flossing once a day is important, too. The dental floss helps clean areas where brush bristles can’t reach. Hence, it lessens the number of bacteria and plaque in your mouth, which results in minimized risk for cavities or gum diseases.

Flossing Prevents Tartar Buildup

Cleaning between your teeth is also important and flossing helps you achieve just that. Flossing daily helps to eliminate food particles, bacteria, and plaque. It also helps prevent tartar buildup.

Tartar is a hardened yellow deposit that coats the teeth and gums. When plaque and bacteria are left behind, they calcify and remain on the teeth and gum line, resulting in tooth decay and gum diseases.

Tartar can only be effectively removed with help from a dental hygienist and/or a skilled dentist, using dental instruments or an ultrasonic scaling device.

How to Use Dental Floss?

Now you know how essential flossing is in the oral hygiene routine. But it is also important to use them correctly to get the best results. Learn to floss using these simple guidelines:

Wrap each end of the floss (18 inches) around your index finger. This will stop it from slipping.
Hold it securely between your thumb and forefingers.
Insert gently between your teeth.
When it reaches the gum line, form a C-shape that curves around one tooth. Then begin moving the floss up and down in a back and forth motion.
Throw away the floss after use.

Your gums might bleed when flossing for the first time. It is normal. But if it doesn’t stop, consult your dentist immediately.

When to Floss—Before or After Brushing?

The time doesn't matter, what matters is you do a thorough job of cleaning between your teeth. Pick a suitable time for yourself and floss regularly.

Make sure cleaning between teeth isn’t painful, because it is not supposed to be a painful task. Flossing too hard will damage the tissue present in between the teeth. Being gentle will not help you get the food particles out either.

While it is normal to feel some pain during the first few days, if it doesn’t go away, consult your dentist.

Feel free to contact Cheyenne Dental, 3605 Star Ranch Rd Colorado Springs, CO 80906 at (719) 576-3276. Or schedule a meeting online to consult our dentist.