Brushing and flossing have long been synonymous with proper oral hygiene. Both practices help you avoid the detrimental effects of periodontal disease.  Flossing removes food particles that get trapped between your teeth and under the gumline while brushing helps to remove them from the front and backs of your teeth. Much of what you do to preserve the health of your smile happens out of our office when you are at home.  Investing in your oral hygiene efforts and techniques will deliver dividends that you can benefit from all your life. Two key components in a healthy oral hygiene routine include proper brushing and flossing. If you aren’t doing these two actions properly, you could be missing out on some of the key benefits they provide. Learn tips to help your effectiveness.

Why Brush?

One of the most important steps in preventive dentistry is brushing your teeth daily with fluoride-fortified toothpaste that has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). This practice is necessary to remove plaque, and plaque-creating food agents, from your teeth.  If you don’t remove plaque, it builds up and the plaque acids eat away at the enamel of your teeth causing your teeth to decay while leaving your gum tissue inflamed. Gums that suffer from chronic inflammation put you at risk for developing periodontal disease which is not only risky to your oral health, but also to your overall health and wellness. Periodontal disease can also cause you to lose your teeth!  2 minutes of brushing three times a day can help prevent these dangerous results. (Don’t forget to brush your tongue. This will help remove bacteria from your mouth and also help freshen your breath.)  

Why Floss?

Proper flossing is also a key habit to develop because your brush can only get to the front and back parts of your teeth. The sides of your teeth that rub up against neighboring teeth can only be cleaned by floss. Floss helps to remove food that gets trapped between your teeth that if left to fester can create gum inflammation and increased plaque production. The success of flossing is dependent on proper technique.  If you are unsure on the right way to floss your teeth, a member of our Mountain Aire Dentistry team can show you how to do it right.

The Power of Preventive Dentistry with Brushing and Flossing

The American Dental Association is urging Americans and dentists to support preventive dentistry and practice preventive dentistry strategies. The statistics they share on the current state of dental health in our country are very persuasive.  They feel that millions of Americans are living in what can only be described as a ‘dental health crisis’.  Nearly half of adults over age 30 suffer from some form of gum disease. Nearly one in four children under age five already has cavities. The number of emergency department visits in the U.S. for dental conditions increased from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2010.  The two most prevalent conditions are tooth decay and gum disease–both of which can be prevented through proper oral hygiene practices–brushing and flossing and regular check-ups and examinations.

How Can I Floss More Effectively?

The American Dental Association and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association provides these instructions on how you properly floss your teeth:

1. Wind 18″ of floss around middle fingers of each hand.
2. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1″- 2″ length in between.
3. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth keeping a 1″ – 2″ length of floss taut between fingers.
4. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.
5. Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion.
6. Gently wrap floss around the side of the tooth.
7. Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gumline.
8. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.

Call for a Brushing and Flossing Consultation and Examination

Our goal at Mountain Aire Dentistry is to provide quality dental care for you and your family through the use of the latest equipment and the most current technology and through patient education. Knowing how to take care of your teeth with proper brushing and flossing between visits is essential.  Call our Broomfield office today at 720-887-6003 if you have any questions about how you are brushing and flossing and to have a quick examination to make sure your efforts are working.  Protecting the health of your teeth involves dedicated planning, expert skills, and effective tools and treatments.  Our team at Mountain Aire Dentistry is dedicated to keeping your mouth (and body) healthy.