Flossing Facts & Myths

At Gateway Dental Care, we get a lot of questions about flossing at our Pleasanton office. There are many myths related to why and how to floss your teeth.

Whether you’re looking for ways to convince your child to floss or just need some good reasons to commit to this crucial daily habit yourself, let us help dispel some of this incorrect information.

 

The Most Common Myths About Flossing

Why would anyone be afraid to floss? The reasons might surprise you. Here are a few of the common myths floating around out there.

• I Only Need To Floss When I See Food In My Teeth
• People With Braces Don’t Need To Floss
• Flossing Will Make My Gums Recede Faster
• Flossing Makes My Gums Bleed
• My Fillings Might Fall Out

Spoiler Alert: Flossing Won’t Make Your Fillings Fall Out

Perhaps you’ve heard the story about the time a friend flossed and a filling fell out. If the filling was poorly fit, it was destined to fall out no matter what. A loose filling is just as likely to fall out when your brushing or chewing a crunchy or sticky food.

It’s important that you floss every day regardless of how many fillings or crowns you have. Not flossing will only lead to more cavities.

Floss Removes More Than Just Food

Floss isn’t just to remove big pieces of food caught in your teeth. When small food particles are left to rot, they will be converted by bacteria in your mouth into plaque. This is the leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease.

Even if you don’t feel food stuck between your teeth, it’s best to floss.

Bleeding? It’s Not Your Floss.

Bleeding while flossing or pink on your toothbrush are both an indication that there could be an infection. Sometimes improper flossing is the reason for the bleeding. In either case, professional dental care and continual flossing can help alleviate bleeding gums and fight infections.

Yes, You Still Floss With Braces

We know it’s challenging to floss when you have braces or if you have a small tight space between your teeth, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore flossing. Your dentist can help you figure out this tricky task, but not flossing with braces can lead to painful infections and cavities.

For proper flossing, follow these easy steps:

• Wind 18″ of floss around both middle fingers.
• Hold the floss between thumbs and index finger.
• See-saw floss between teeth.
• Reach beneath your gum line as you work by curving floss.
• Use a clean section of floss between each set of teeth.

Flossing & Regular Dental Visits: Healthy Teeth

Flossing fights gum diseases and tooth decay. For tips on how to improve your flossing technique call us at Gateway Dental Care today to schedule your biannual visit. Our hygienists have all the tips and tricks you need to get a happy, healthy smile.