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DENTAL FLOSS: WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Did you know that those who don't floss may miss more than one-third of their tooth surface when cleaning? Indeed, good dental health requires a mix of personal dental care and the regular care of your dentist. And according to the Canadian Dental Association, flossing is a non-negotiable part of good dental care because it removes the plaque and bacteria you simply cannot see or reach with your toothbrush.

Using dental floss is important because plaque, an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth and is the primary cause of gum disease, can harden into tartar in as little as 24 to 36 hours. Daily flossing is essential to preventing early gum disease (gingivitis – or gum inflammation) and, eventually, more progressed gum disease. This is troubling because the health of our teeth and gums directly reflects the overall state of our health and/or disease. Advanced gum disease has been shown to correlate with the onset of degenerative conditions that affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

How To Floss

Getting into the habit of using dental floss every day is easier if you do it while you do something else you enjoy, like watching TV or listening to a podcast. Dentists recommend that we floss daily before or after brushing.

To get the most benefits from flossing, you need to use the proper technique:
- Start with about 18 inches of dental floss
- Wind most of the floss around each middle finger, and leave an inch or two to pass through your teeth
- Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up and down between your teeth, gently curving the floss around the base of each tooth and going beneath the gum line
- Do not force the floss, as this can damage the delicate gum tissue
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth

Dental Floss Varieties

There are a variety of dental flosses to choose from on the market, including:
- Thread floss
- Waxed and unwaxed floss
- Flavoured and unflavoured dental floss
- Flosses with coatings such as antibacterial tea tree oil
- PTFE floss
- Biodegradable and natural floss

Each offers distinct benefits and drawbacks, and the state of one's gums will dictate which is best for you. In a nutshell, however, waxed thread floss made from nylon is easy to use and glides easily between teeth. It’s great for those with very little space between teeth. Some prefer the unwaxed variety because it tends to absorb food particles better; however, if your teeth are very close, this type of dental floss may often break.