Flossing is one of the most important parts of your oral health routine. Food that gets trapped between your teeth or below the gumline will harden into plaque and eventually will lead to inflamed gums and possibly cavities. If you find flossing uncomfortable, it may just be that you haven’t found the floss that’s right for you!
Floss: So Many Choices
We are fortunate that we have so many choices when it comes to floss now. It was not too long ago that the only style of floss was unwaxed, which many people find uncomfortable. However, one of the benefits of unwaxed floss is that it will squeak when pulled against clean teeth, indicating that all the plaque has been removed.
On the other hand, if you are using a type of floss that gives you the feeling of nails on a chalkboard, then the likelihood is that you won’t be as motivated to floss every day. If you can find a type of floss that you feel comfortable with, then this would be the ideal floss since chances are you will use it as often as you should. At the end of the day, don’t feel discouraged about flossing. Keep trying the different varieties of floss on the market, and you will likely find one that you prefer using.
Any Floss Is Better Than No Floss
When it comes down to it, flossing is always better than brushing alone, so no matter what type of floss you use, any floss is better than no floss. According to a study cited on OralB.com, all the flosses studied removed a significant amount of plaque. “Results from a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that there was no difference in the plaque-removing ability of four different types of flossing products. In this study, 25 people were assigned to use four different products: an electric flosser, an unwaxed floss, a woven floss, and a shred-resistant floss. All four floss products showed significantly greater plaque removal compared with tooth brushing alone, and the electric flosser showed the highest average plaque reduction after one use.”
What Is Dental Tape?
Dental tape is a flatter floss that is good for people with large gaps between their teeth, but it is also good for people with very crowded teeth as it slides more easily into small spaces. Waxed floss in general is a good choice for people with crowded teeth. Floss picks and water picks are becoming popular, however we must advise that they do not do as good of a job as regular floss will.
If you have any questions about floss, please come see us at Dental Solutions of Columbus today! Schedule a cleaning to remove plaque that your floss can’t reach. Schedule an appointment today online or call us today for your appointment.