Does Flossing Help With Dental Hygiene?
Dental hygiene, oral hygiene and teeth cleaning are all names for the cleaning and removal of dental plaque and tartar. If regular cleaning is not carried out by a dental hygienist at least twice a year then all sorts of problems will occur. This type of thorough cleaning can prevent gum disease and a condition of the gums known as gingivitis. Severe gum disease can lead to a number of conditions and can also cause adults to lose teeth. About one third of all adult tooth loss is down to gum disease. In its most severe form, gum disease can also lead to heart disease, as the bacteria in plaque and tartar can enter the blood stream via the swollen and irritated and often, bleeding gums. If plaque is left on the teeth this can also irritate the gums and the gums will grow away from the teeth, leaving the path clear for more bacteria and even pus. If this is not treated it can lead to bone loss, which can never be re grown.
Since before records began, there has been some form of cleaning instrument in use other than a toothbrush. In India the neem tree and its by products were used to clean teeth by chewing the twigs from the tree. Since the Islamic golden age something called the miswak, which was made from a twig or root from the tree was chewed to clean the teeth. Also in the past people were recommended to use chalk or baking soda or even salt to rub on their teeth to clean off the plaque and tartar.
One of the most important things that you can do at home to keep your mouth plaque free is to floss daily. Floss removes plaque from between the teeth before it can harden into tartar. It also removes particles of food that if left can become rotten and mouldy and we all know that rotten and mouldy food really has an unpleasant smell. Just imagine if your breath smelled like that!
Each piece of floss should be 10-12 inches in length. It should be wound round the middle or index finger, supported by the thumbs, leaving about 4-5 inches of floss to use between the teeth. The floss should be moved up and down the sides of the teeth and care should be taken to gently go under the gum slightly so that all of the plaque and food is removed. If you have never flossed before, it is usual to find that gums will bleed a little, regular use of the floss will quickly restore gum health so that when you floss there will be no bleeding.
Some tips for keeping your mouth clean are:
1. Brushing gentle brushing of the tooth surface and the edge of the gum will clean the teeth without promoting gum recession.
2. Tongue cleaning removing the white/yellow bacteria from the tongue with a special tongue cleaner will stop bad breath as well as remove dead skin cells.
3. Flossing will promote healthier teeth and gums
4. Mouthwash if used after all of the above it will help to keep the breath fresh and just by having the taste of it in your mouth, may well stop you from eating sweet and sugary foods, as the two tastes do not normally go together.
For pain free dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry give our Dentist in Essex a call. Perfect Smile Spa is a cosmetic dentistry clinic situated in Hornchurch Essex.
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