Studies have shown that 98% of people brush their teeth at least once a day, but only 32% of people floss their teeth every day. So how often should you floss? EVERY DAY. At least once.
Each tooth has 5 surfaces, and 2 of them are between the teeth, which means if you’re not flossing, you’re not getting 30-40% of the tooth clean. If you wouldn’t skip 10 teeth when you are brushing, don’t leave out the flossing. Flossing is not extra credit.
Why is it important to floss?
Flossing removes plaque from between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Plaque contains bacteria that produce acids that can cause tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis). Flossing helps prevent bad breath by reducing the bacteria in your mouth and preventing serious dental problems.
Why does it smell bad when I floss?
The bacteria in the plaque between your teeth produce volatile sulfur compounds that have an unpleasant odor. You may notice the smell most when you are dislodging the plaque and food particles with floss, but leaving that behind is going to cause bad breath.
If you floss your teeth daily, you will probably not notice a smell because the plaque has not had much chance to build up. If you still notice a bad smell after flossing daily for a few weeks, you may have a more serious problem that needs to be checked by a dentist.
Why does it hurt when I floss?
If your teeth hurt when you floss, it is likely that you have already developed a cavity between your teeth. Call your dentist to schedule a checkup.
If you are not flossing very often, your gums may hurt when you do floss. This is because you probably have some degree of gum disease. If gum disease is still in its earliest stage, gingivitis, you can actually cure it with proper brushing and flossing!
The more you floss, the less it will hurt when you do. Think of it like a workout for your gums – if you work out every day, you won’t be as sore as if you only do it once a month. Be gentle at first as you are getting used to flossing.
Why do my gums bleed when I floss?
Healthy gums don’t bleed, so bleeding is a sign of gum disease. If your gums bleed when you floss, it is a sign that you need to floss more, not less. The great thing is gingivitis can generally be reversed in 1-2 weeks with proper brushing and flossing. Periodontitis is a more serious gum disease that needs to be treated by your dentist, so if you are still noticing bleeding after a few weeks of flossing, call your dentist to schedule an appointment.
Can you floss too much?
It’s almost impossible to floss “too much”, although it is possible to floss too hard or aggressively. You want to slide your floss along each side of each tooth, rubbing a little up and down in a polishing motion, getting a little under the gums. Think of hugging the floss against the tooth to scoop the plaque off.
“Sawing” the floss horizontally between your teeth and into your gums will not remove more plaque, but can cut into the gums, and can even create small notches in the root if someone is flossing extremely aggressively for years.
When should I floss?
Theoretically, the best time to floss is before you go to sleep, but in reality, you should floss when it is most convenient for you. The reason it is most ideal to floss before bed is because saliva helps to neutralize the acids produced by plaque, and when we go to sleep, we don’t produce as much saliva. That means if you’re not flossing before bed, the bacteria is sitting between your teeth all night damaging your teeth and gums.
With that said, by the time you are tired at the end of the day, flossing can seem like one more chore, and it’s easy to be out of motivation and tell yourself you’ll just do it tomorrow. If it is better for you to add flossing to your morning routine, or floss after lunch, or in the car, or in the shower, or while you watch TV, flossing any time of the day will greatly improve your oral health.
Should I brush or floss first?
A 2018 study in the Journal of Periodontology determined that flossing before you brush is more effective than flossing after, both for removing plaque and improving fluoride concentration between your teeth. However, as long as you are flossing daily you are preventing a huge amount of dental issues.
Do I need to floss my child’s teeth?
Yes, unless there is enough space between all the teeth for the toothbrush to get between. If your child has teeth that touch, those teeth need to be flossed to prevent cavities. Baby teeth are smaller and have thinner enamel, so they can be prone to cavities.
What can I use instead of dental floss?
String floss is considered the gold standard for removing plaque between teeth, but many people struggle to use it. Floss piks, toothpicks, interdental brushes, and water flossers are all great alternatives to traditional floss. Anything that you will use is more effective than something you won’t.
