Happy National Flossing Day! No, this isn’t a joke. Flossing has come into its own and now it has its own day that happens to fall on Thanksgiving this year. If you watch TV, you might think that brushing is the most important thing you can do for your mouth, and that’s partly true. Regular and thorough flossing is just as important to your oral health. Follow up with regular dental cleanings and examinations from Bell Dental Group in Cincinnati, OH, and you’ve got a winning formula.

Let’s Talk Floss

The purpose of floss is to loosen plaque from between the teeth before it can begin to eat away tooth enamel and irritate the gums. In that sense, floss does the same thing that your toothbrush does for the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth. Of course, your toothbrush and toothpaste also helps brighten your smile, so brushing and flossing are your best tools in keeping your mouth healthy and your smile looking great.

When it comes to choosing a type of dental floss, the most important consideration is picking one that you will use regularly. There’s no evidence to prove that one type of floss is better at removing dental plaque from between teeth. Waxed floss, unwaxed floss, and ribbon floss are available, and you can choose those dental picks with a small bit of floss for on-the-go plaque removal.

Don’t skimp on the floss you use daily, though. You’ll need a length that’s long enough to comfortably secure around a finger and to use a fresh section between each contact in your mouth. 18 inches of floss works for most people.

Don’t overdo the brushing or the flossing. Plaque is soft when it first forms and it’s easily removed. Use the floss to scrape the sides of the teeth in the contacts, but go easy on the gums. Once you’re finished, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water (or mouthwash, if you like), but be vigorous about it. You want to completely dislodge any plaque you loosened so you completely remove it from your mouth.

Your “2-1-2” Success Formula

For the vast majority of people, thoroughly brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once will do a good job of keeping plaque from getting a foothold. There are some people who need to clean their teeth more often, and this is usually due to genetics. Dr. Charles Bell at Bell Dental Group in Cincinnati will advise you on the best way to care for your mouth.

So, brushing twice and flossing once is the “2-1” in the success formula. The other “2” is you twice-yearly dental cleanings and examinations at Bell Dental Group. It only takes a little plaque in a hard-to-reach place in your mouth to begin eating away at your dental enamel and irritating your gums. Your dental hygienist – who, let’s face it, can see the insides of your mouth way better than you can – will remove every trace of plaque (and it’s more dangerous older brother, dental calculus or tartar).

Dr. Charles Bell will use the digital imaging results and a thorough examination to detect even the smallest dental issues so they can be corrected quickly and easily.

To schedule a dental cleaning and examination at Bell Dental Group in Cincinnati, OH, call our office today at 513-802-9440 .