5 Surprising Facts About Flossing
For some people, flossing is the best part of their daily oral healthcare routine. They just love getting in there and clearing out the debris. But for most of us? Flossing is a necessity, but nothing we look forward to.
Are you struggling to gather the motivation to floss each day? Well, they say knowledge is power. Perhaps these five surprising facts about flossing will give you the strength to ensure it is part of your day—and maybe even get you to start looking forward to it!
#1: Floss Goes Where Your Brush Can’t
A great toothbrush should dig into the crevices between your teeth—and the right brushing technique can help at the gumline. However, it cannot fully get between the teeth. Flossing gets rid of the debris and plaque stuck in the spots your brush can’t reach.
#2: Your Floss Ribbon Has an Ideal Length
How much floss is too little—or too much? You might think that it doesn’t matter as long as you can hold it, but the truth is that the ideal length for your floss ribbon is 18 to 20 inches. This gives you enough to wrap around your fingers for a firm grip while still leaving enough to really move around the teeth and along the gumline.
#3: If Flossing Makes Your Gums Bleed, You Need to Floss More
In general, if something is making you bleed, it’s a sign to stop what you’re doing. This isn’t necessarily the case with flossing. While you absolutely could be using the wrong techniques and harming your gums, usually bleeding is a sign that your gums are inflamed due to a lack of flossing. Floss regularly and this should go away.
#4: Orthodontic Appliances Aren’t an Excuse to Skip Flossing
Flossing with braces and fixed retainers is harder than it would be without them. However, this is not a reason to skip flossing. Floss threaders and new techniques allow you to floss around fixed appliances, keeping your teeth healthy while improving alignment.
#5: There Is More Than One Type of Floss
Think you are stuck with that plastic-textured wax floss? Nope! There are plenty of alternatives, including natural silk floss. Not only do these feel better to use in most cases, but they are also biodegradable and safer for your teeth!
Looking for the ideal floss for you? Check out Dr. Jen's All-Natural Silk Floss!
