Flossing, Brushing Then Mouthwash As an alternative to brushing first, many people choose to floss first. There are several strengths to this order that make it generally the best option of the three. If you floss first, you're more likely to give it the attention and time it deserves.
Most people brush, floss and then use mouthwash. And some just brush, skipping the other two steps. As it turns out, it's actually more effective to floss, use mouthwash, then brush, according to dentists — and they don't recommend skipping any steps.
While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.
The best time to floss is when you have time to floss properly. For many people, this means flossing at night before bed. This may also prevent food particles from remaining in your teeth overnight, which will reduce possible damage from bacteria. Flossing regularly is vital to maintain proper oral health.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an infection of the gum tissues. It's often caused by poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing your teeth or flossing as often as you should.
Dental plaque that remains on your teeth for several days hardens and turns into tartar, which must be scraped off. Tartar makes your teeth look yellow and smell bad, so you may find it difficult to clean your mouth completely once tartar builds up.
The five tooth surfaces are occlusal (top of the tooth), mesial (front of the tooth), distal (back of the tooth), facial (side of the tooth facing the cheek), and lingual (side of the tooth facing the tongue).
One of the most important parts of a regular dental cleaning is the removal of plaque and tartar. This is most commonly performed using an ultrasonic scaling device, which breaks up the tartar, plaque and biofilm.
If your visit to the dentist reveals significant pockets- those 4mm or greater, then you are at risk for (or in the stages of), periodontal disease. This makes you a candidate for the therapy (a deep teeth cleaning) and it is highly recommended if you want to stop and prevent the progression of the disease.
The back sides of teeth are often overlooked when brushing. This includes the upper and lower front teeth. Consistently missing these back sides will lead to the buildup of tartar. Get into the habit of maneuvering with the toothbrush to reach these often missed areas.
Deep cleaning is not necessary for every patient. However, for patients with gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease) or a more serious case of gum disease, deep cleaning may be required to prevent tooth loss and stop further damage.
Scaling involves a special tool to scrape the tartar off of your teeth. There are tools available for at-home purchase, but it's important that you don't attempt to scale teeth on your own. Without professional training, you can cause serious damage to your teeth and gum tissue.
When this happens, the harsh ingredients in your toothpaste cause the cells lining the insides of your cheeks to slough off, and as they collect in your mouth, this creates the white, slimy, stringy stuff.
Even if you brush and floss daily, there's still potential for calculus and tartar buildup. Calculus is hardened plaque made from a combination of protein materials in our mouth such as saliva.
If you're not flossing regularly, your dentist will likely be able to tell by looking at your teeth and gums. They may also ask you questions about your oral care routine to better understand how often you're actually flossing.
Even if you've gone your whole life without flossing, it's never too late to start and give your teeth the thorough clean they deserve. Many people don't begin flossing until their dentist recommends it to help manage an oral health problem. Once they're used to it, it can become part of their normal routine.
The reality is that not brushing your teeth before bed is bad news. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your beautiful smile twice a day. Skip a session, and you're on your way to encouraging the growth of bacterial buildup in the form of plaque, which can lead to cavities and even gum disease.
You ought to do this delicately as opposed to being excessively forceful, or you'll end up with bleeding or harming your gums. After you slide the floss between your teeth, you should bend it around the tooth and let it plunge beneath the gum line (in a perfect world, it should plunge around 2 – 3 millimeters down).
Avoiding flossing can lead to: Gum disease: if you don't remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth, it creates a breeding ground for the bacteria that lead to gum disease. And gum disease is a significant factor in tooth loss. Bleeding gums often come from a buildup of plaque at the gumline.
Floss slightly below the gum line until you feel resistance, then stop. Do not press so hard and floss so fast that flossing hurts and/or cuts your gum tissue but by all means, floss below the gumline. It is important not neglect this because harmful plaque resides there.
It depends on how severe the receding gums are, as if they are only minimally receded, then the gums will reattach themselves to the teeth. While any gum loss experienced due to gum disease will not grow back, the majority of patients can expect their gums to reattach after undergoing a deep cleaning.
Avoid sticky, hard (such as ice cubes, nuts, popcorn, chips), brittle, spicy, highly seasoned, or acidic foods in your diet. Foods such as soups, pasta, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese etc. are best. Be sure to maintain adequate nutrition and drink plenty of fluids.