The way you approach your flossing routine will affect your ability to fight tartar buildup, prevent cavities, and control your risks for gingivitis. In other words, this is not a part of your oral hygiene routine that you should take lightly! Unfortunately, too many people see flossing as nothing more than a way to remove food that has become wedged between teeth. Do you take the time to clean between your teeth each day? Doing this as part of your smile care regimen, and keeping up with regular dental exams, will help you avoid oral health problems in the long term. Our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office is happy to provide input about your routine, just as we can intervene and provide care when something negatively affects your smile.
How Often Should I Floss?
In addition to using dental floss to safely remove items that become stuck between teeth, you should take the time to clean between your teeth each evening. When performed on a daily basis, this form of smile care provides important protection against the oral bacteria and food particles that can create problems for us. These spaces may be difficult to clean with a toothbrush, but they certainly leave room for harmful microbes and food debris, which means they can be vulnerable to tartar buildup, dental decay, and more.
Maintaining Good Habits Can Protect Your Teeth And Gums
Your smile care routine helps you lower your risk for cavities, but it is also important to keep up with good habits to protect yourself against gum disease. When bacteria build up at the base of your teeth, they can start to move below the tissues and create difficulties for your well-being. If an infection is not addressed in time, it can worsen and make your overall oral health more difficult to manage.
Discuss Smile Care With Your Dentist At Your Next Checkup
If you have questions about your smile care routine, you can bring them up at a routine dental exam. During your appointment, you can bring up concerns that you have about your ability to keep your smile safe against tartar buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. We can also discuss other factors, like your diet choices, that can negatively affect your well-being.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Better Smile Care Habits
Are you really doing enough to keep your smile in good health? Without the right habits in place, it will be difficult for you to avoid trouble with dental decay and gingivitis. Those habits should include a consistent routine of flossing, as this protects areas that are hard to protect through brushing alone. If you would like to find out more, or if you have questions about the current state of your oral health, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
