How to Floss Your Way to Healthier Gums

Your gums help keep your teeth attached to your jaw and protect your mouth from harm. Your tooth roots are connected to your periodontal ligament, covered by several layers of gum tissue.

Tooth and gum health are essential, so brushing and flossing must be part of daily dental hygiene. Unfortunately, not everyone does both. In fact, studies show that a third of American adults don’t floss regularly. 

To understand why flossing is critical, let’s examine its benefits. 

Residents of the Marmaroneck, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut, areas who want to improve their gum health can find help with Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and the dental expertise of our team at All Bright Dental. 

The purpose of flossing

Flossing prevents food particles, plaque, and tartar from building up between the teeth where brushing can’t reach. It clears particles from hard-to-reach areas using a strand of treated nylon that slides between the teeth. 

Another option is a water flosser that uses a concentrated stream of water. 

Regardless of what you use, floss at least once a day.  

Flossing techniques

Traditional flossing starts by breaking off about one and a half to two feet of flossing nylon, winding it around both middle fingers, and leaving about one or two inches to use on your teeth. 

Holding it taut with your index fingers and thumb, place it between your teeth, and glide it up and down each side, being sure to avoid moving it into your gums to prevent bruising. 

As it reaches your gums, form a C-shape by curving the floss at the base of your tooth to get it into the area between your gums and teeth.

You’ll need to modify the technique if you have braces. Water flossers and waterpiks can be helpful with braces as it cleans between wires and brackets. Floss picks work on the same principle but don’t require the manipulation of the nylon.

Benefits for gum health

Here are several ways flossing helps your gums:

• Eliminating plaque: flossing removes sugar, starch, and other particles from between teeth that cause tooth decay and gum problems
• Reducing your risk of cavities: cavities form over time, leading to damage to the tooth root and creating gum infections 
• Preventing gum disease: flossing lowers the risk of gingivitis and more severe forms of gum disease
• Managing bad breath: when food particles get stuck between the teeth and gums, it causes bad breath 

Flossing is great for your dental health because it helps preserve your teeth and gums. If you have questions or concerns about flossing, make an appointment with Dr. Kravets today.