YOU probably spent time on your skincare regime this morning, and on washing and styling your hair.
But how much thought did you put into your dental routine?
GettyBleeding gums when flossing is a sign you need to floss more[/caption]
Most of us think we’ve done well if we’ve managed to brush our teeth twice a day.
While flossing is often overlooked as an ‘extra’ – those who are taking the time to do it are probably flossing incorrectly, one expert has said.
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Kailesh Solanki a dentist from Manchester, urged people not to move the floss “too roughly in a sawing action”.
“This puts pressure on the gums,” he said.
“Instead, gently slide the floss across the side, front and back of each tooth and under the gumline to dislodge food particles and plaque.”
He also cautions people against reusing the same section of floss to clean more than one gap, so that you aren’t “simply moving debris around”.
But the most common mistake patients make is giving up on flossing when their gums bleed, the expert said.
“This can be a sign of gum disease and is actually an indication that you need to continue with regular flossing.
“The bleeding will stop after a few days,” he explained.
When should I floss?
Unlike brushing, it’s only necessary to floss once daily, not each time you brush your teeth, the expert explained.
“Doing it before bed means you have the time to spend on doing it properly, rather than in the morning when you’re rushing about,” he added.
There is still some debate about whether to floss before or after brushing teeth.
“I would advise flossing first, so the fluoride in the toothpaste can then access and coat all areas of your teeth without being hindered by debris,” the dentist said.
What should I floss with?
The first step to clean teeth is to make sure you have the right tools for the job.
If you are finding flossing painful or ineffective it’s worth trying another method, Dr Kailesh said.
“String floss is the most common type used and is effective in removing debris between evenly spaced teeth.
“Brace wearers or those who have close or overlapping teeth may find it difficult to use however, in which case dental tape may prove easier.
“Dental picks hold dental floss in place but they may not be as effective in removing plaque as normal string floss or brushes, since they can’t be manoeuvred as effectively,” he said.
Water flossers are still quite new to the flossing scene and have become extremely popular in recent years,
“There is still some debate about their efficacy as the pressurised water flow is unable to curve around or in some cases, between the teeth,” he said.