Does Flossing Create Gaps between Your Teeth?

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Does Flossing Create Gaps between Your Teeth?

January 1, 2022

Gaps between your teeth are indicators of gingivitis or problems with your gums. There are various reasons why you may develop gaps between your teeth. One of the reasons is improper flossing. However, so long as you floss correctly, flossing will likely not cause gaps, states Redding Family Dental.

The Importance of Flossing

Flossing helps prevent dental plaque. The microorganisms in dental plaque can inflame your soft tissues, and if you fail to stop the inflammation, it causes gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible with good oral hygiene. However, if you don’t obtain appropriate treatment for gingivitis from the dentist near me, you allow the condition to destroy the supporting soft tissue. Gingivitis destroys the bone holding the tooth’s socket eventually. Dental floss can help you remove dental plaque gradually.

There are no recommendations for how many times you must floss every day. However, similar rules don’t apply to the formation of dental plaque because it is an ongoing process. That said, flossing at least once a day is recommended to achieve optimal oral health. If you don’t floss, you are more likely to experience problems with your gums than people who do so regularly. Unfortunately, flossing assumes catastrophic proportions if you don’t follow proper techniques and do it wrongly.

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How to Floss Your Teeth?

When you floss your teeth, the best way is to saw the dental floss through the contact point without snapping it through. Trying to floss incorrectly will lacerate the gum tissue hurting them. Instead, you must bring the floss near the base of your tooth tightly before pulling it away from the bottom. Unfortunately, many people don’t respond similarly to flossing. However, the dentist in Redding, CA, recommends flossing as essential because it helps remove any food debris trapped between your teeth to minimize the chances of suffering from inflammatory reactions. In addition, the recommendation is beneficial for some people prone to tooth decay and gum disease. These people are often affected by the problem of dry mouth.

How Does Saliva Prevent Gum Disease?

Your saliva produces protective fluids in your mouth. Patients undergoing chemotherapy affecting the production of saliva are advised to pay attention to their oral health. Another element to consider is acid regurgitation, also a contributing factor to tooth decay and periodontal pockets. When you have excess acid in your mouth, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish. In addition, your mouth remains closed at night when sleeping, creating the ideal setting for bacteria. If you are affected by xerostomia and lack sufficient saliva production, your mouth creates perfect conditions for gum disease. It is why brushing and flossing before going to bed at night are recommended.

Is Flossing Detrimental?

Undoubtedly flossing is detrimental if you are using the wrong technique when using this fantastic tool. Misusing the tool or indulging in improper flossing will allow bacteria to remain on your teeth and encourage them to flourish beneath your gums. Pockets are spaces between your gums and teeth. When you allow dental plaque to stay on your teeth for years, it eventually causes your gums to recede from your teeth and below the gums. Removing dental plaque is challenging with dental floss alone and needs advanced tools available with dentists. It is why dentists recommend you get frequent dental exams and cleanings near you every six months.

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Do you find it challenging to floss your teeth with the traditional tool? If you inquire with the Redding dentist, they recommend using an oral irrigator, also known as a water flosser, to wash away the plaque in the difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth. Water flossers are ideal for people using dental appliances like braces or implants. The most up-to-date version of an oral irrigator can prevent gum pockets for patients undergoing orthodontic treatments. However, water flossers are best used with brushing.

Do You Find Flossing a Challenging Task?

As mentioned earlier in this article, flossing creates pocket gaps in your teeth if you misuse the tool. Therefore, during dental exams and cleanings in Redding, CA, the professionals aim to help everyone learn how to floss their teeth correctly. In addition, they work with you to demonstrate proper flossing techniques and to improve your flossing activity.

Whether you use a manual flosser or an oral irrigator, you must incorporate flossing besides brushing in your daily oral hygiene regimen. When you floss doesn’t matter so long as you do it once every day without exceptions. Neglect flossing your teeth or do it incorrectly, and you help create gaps between your teeth from the inflammatory reactions of bacteria in your mouth.

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