A Little Flossing makes a Very Big Difference

Bedtime comes and it's time to perform your nightly health duties. You brush your teeth and use your mouthwash. You stare at your floss and tell yourself, "I'll do it tomorrow, no big deal." The next night and the next after that you tell yourself the same thing thinking its no big deal to skip simple flossing, when on the contrary, skipping several nights at a time just may do more harm than you realize.

Why floss?
The American Dental Association states, "The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day to help remove plaque from the areas between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. This is important because plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing can eventually harden into calculus or tartar. (ADA. 2015) The consequences obviously aren't very pleasant and could lead to something you might can't get rid of in the future.

The proper way to floss.

Though flossing may seem like kindergarten work, it is possible to floss in the wrong way and end up cutting up your sensitive gums and cause separation between the teeth and gums. This slight separation may heal but constant separation will become permanent and that will allow microscopic particles to seep in, get trapped and cause decay. 

Types of Flossing Tools.

There are great tools available that help to make flossing easier and even enjoyable for the procrastinators. According to My Family Dentistry website, they list the five best flossing tools for 2014. They are as follows:

1. Waterpik Water Flosser
2. Sonicare AirFloss
3. Flossing Picks
4. Oral-B Threader Floss
5. Flavored Floss

(For an in-depth detail on each, visit My Family Dentistry)

My personal favorite would be Listerine's ULTRACLEAN flavored flossing. I've trusted Listerine's products for years and their floss alongside their mouthwash has proven to be quite effective for the health of my own teeth. 

The floss is lined with ridges that scrape against teeth removing any built-up food particles missed by brushing. The flavors are also a plus especially if you use mint or cinnamon. 

Never too late to floss.

I went my entire childhood and teenhood without flossing. As an adult, I began to educate myself better about gum health and decided to change my ways. After just a week of ritual flossing, I could see a major different. The area between my teeth are just as white as my teeth itself and the compliments are endless. It's never too late to begin caring for your teeth so start today and have a brighter smiles tomorrow. 

References:

 Building Heroic Habits in Our Family With LISTERINE - Mommy's Fabulous Finds. (2014, October 7). Retrieved December 22, 2015, from http://www.mommysfabulousfinds.com/2014/10/building-heroic-habits-family-listerine.html 

 Dentistry, M. (2014, January 6). Best Flossing Tools for 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2015, from http://www.myfamilydentistry.com/best-flossing-tools-2014/ 

 Flossing. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2015, from http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing