Maintaining proper oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly can help you avoid tooth decay, dental cavities, and periodontal disease.. While most people brush their teeth daily, the many don’t floss very often, or may not use the proper technique when flossing their teeth. To protect your teeth from tooth decay and cavities, you should floss every day using the technique recommended by dentists, cosmetic dentists, and orthodontists serving patients in Newton.
You should take care when flossing to floss between each tooth. Plaque and bacteria get trapped between teeth, and a common flossing mistake is flossing just one side of a tooth, rather than both. You should also use a new piece of dental floss each time you floss between teeth. Using the same piece over and over just moves harmful bacteria from tooth to tooth.
When trying to slide dental floss in between crooked teeth, or two teeth that are very close together, never use so much pressure that the dental floss cuts into your gums. This increases your risk of developing a gum infection, gum disease, or receding gums. If you wear clear braces, be sure to floss around the braces.