Four Myths About Flossing
Most people brush their teeth every day. However, this is a very small part of a proper at-home oral care routine. Brushing properly and flossing are crucial to your dental health and, in turn, your general health. Unfortunately, only about 30% of Americans floss daily. Debunk some common flossing myths and learn why you should be flossing every day with help from Dr. Laurie Mulka in Redford, MI.
Myth #1: “Flossing makes my mouth bleed.”
It is perfectly normal for your gums to bleed the first few times you floss. However, they are not bleeding from the flossing alone. The plaque and tartar between the teeth have caused the gums to become irritated which causes the bleeding. Your gums should stop bleeding within the first week or so of flossing regularly. If your gums continue to bleed, contact your Redford dentist.
Myth #2: “My teeth are too close together to floss.”
In this case, the problem is almost never that your teeth are too close together. You may simply need to change the type of floss you use. Try switching from regular dental floss to flossing ribbon which is thinner and slightly elastic, allowing it to easily reach between teeth which lie closer together. If teeth suddenly become impossible to floss between, they could be shifting or a filling could be loose. Contact Dr. Mulka to get to the bottom of it.
Myth #3: “Flossing is not necessary.”
When you consume food or drink, bacteria grow on the teeth and in the mouth. This bacteria is normal, but, if it is not knocked away, quickly grows into plaque. While brushing does work to knock away plaque, there are simply some areas of the teeth which are too small for your toothbrush’s bristles to reach. Flossing reaches all the way down and around the tooth and partially under the gum, removing the plaque and bacteria which brushing leaves behind. Flossing is a crucial part of your daily oral care routine and is necessary to keep your teeth clean and healthy.
Myth #4: “Flossing will damage my dental restorations.”
Dental restorations like crowns or bridges can harbor the same bacteria and plaque as the rest of your natural teeth, making flossing around a crown or underneath a bridge important to your oral health. Flossing cannot hurt your dental restorations. If your restoration moves or falls out while flossing, the restoration itself was damaged and you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Mulka as soon as possible.
For more information on why flossing is important in your oral care routine, please contact Dr. Mulka in Redford, MI. Call (313) 937-1520 to schedule your dental examination and cleaning today!