Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. Although many of us skip buying floss, it is an essential item that can help you maintain your child’s optimal oral health. Here are some neat facts about flossing.
1. When you floss daily, you are removing plaque and food debris from in between your teeth. If you don’t floss, it can lead to tartar buildup that can cause bad breath and cavities.
2. If you want to floss properly, you should use about 18 to 20 inches of floss. This will allow you with enough room to firmly grip the floss. It also ensures that you have enough clean floss to properly get the job done.
3. If you don’t floss on a regular basis, it could cause your gums to bleed when you begin. However, if you stay consistent with flossing, your gums will eventually stop bleeding.
4. Floss comes in a variety of flavors. Some popular flavors are cinnamon, mint, and bubble gum. However, there are some unusual flavors on the market as well that include bacon and wasabi.
5. Did you know that brushing only cleans about 70% of the surface of your teeth? As a result, brushing alone leaves spaces and cracks in between the teeth unclean. If you floss daily, you are removing harmful bacteria from the remaining areas so your teeth are 100% clean.
6. Floss is offered in two variations that are known as multifilament and monofilament floss. Multifilament floss is primarily made of silk and nylon, and monofilament floss is usually made with rubber or plastics.
7. Even individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment, such as braces, should still floss daily. This can be accomplished with proxabrushes and floss threaders. These instruments can remove debris and bacteria from the teeth without getting caught on orthodontic devices.
8. When you have teeth that are extremely close together, try using a thin waxed floss. This is because waxed floss slides in between the teeth easier than non-waxed floss.
Kidzania Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics offers high quality dental and orthodontic care for children and families in Aubrey, Little Elm, Prosper, Frisco, Celina and Denton, Texas.