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Yes, tooth brushing is great… but flossing teeth is even better. Flossing is the single most important way to remove bacteria, and prevent gum disease and tooth loss.

The magic of floss is its ability to get between teeth to remove plaque – which is that colorless film of bacteria that forms on the surface of teeth. If plaque lingers too long in those tight corners, painful inflammation may develop as well as bone loss.

Flossing once at the end of the day is all it takes—before or after brushing. It does not matter.

If you have teeth – baby or adult – floss them!

Even baby teeth, though they will eventually fall out, should be flossed. Children who do their own flossing may find that a floss holder makes the task easier—and for parents who are helping, a holder can diminish the risk being bitten by those sharp little teeth.

People make flossing mistakes all the time.

The biggest mistake people make is that they just floss right down on their gums and back up. Ideally, you want to wrap the floss around the tooth and then, in a sawing motion, rub the floss up and down the tooth to remove the bacteria.

If flossing makes your gums bleed, you’re on the right track.

Bleeding gums is not a signal to stop flossing—rather, it’s a signal that you have gum disease and need to floss more. Unless you’re cutting into your gums with the floss, tenderness and bleeding are the result of bacteria having taken up residence between your teeth. And you get it out by flossing.

Do yourself and your mouth some good by using floss each and every day. If you need help learning how to floss teeth, one of our hygienists will show you some very easy techniques at your next dental appointment.

When are you due for a visit?