Aside from brushing, flossing your teeth daily will help maintain healthy teeth and enhance your overall oral hygiene. Flossing properly is an essential component of avoiding the build-up of plaque and tartar that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. However, as simple as it seems, many people, including you perhaps, do not know how to floss the right way. Therefore, here is a guide on the mistakes you should avoid when flossing your teeth.

Flossing After You Brush

There's no rule of the thumb when it comes to the ideal time to floss. However, flossing after you brush is not a good idea. To get the full benefits of flossing, consider flossing before brushing. Doing this will help you brush away the plaque you dislodged from flossing and works better to prevent plaque build-up. Rinsing your mouth with water after flossing may not dislodge all the plaque as effectively as brushing would, so keep that in mind.

Using Improper Motion Technique

How do you move your floss around your teeth? Proper movement of the floss is the key to removing plaque from your teeth and preventing bacteria from finding their way in your gums' pockets. For the best results, move the floss up and down instead of using a backwards and forwards motion like many people tend to do.

Flossing on One Side of Your Tooth

Plaque hides between teeth. Therefore, to get the job done, you have to floss on both sides of the tooth. Make sure you clean the side of both teeth as you move the floss between two teeth. Focusing on the side of only one of the teeth you are flossing is an invitation to getting a cavity on the one you are neglecting.

Neglecting the Back Teeth

Many people forget or are unaware that they have to floss behind their back teeth. There may be no tooth behind your very back teeth. However, bacteria tend to grow on the back sides of these back teeth. Therefore, if you neglect to floss behind your back teeth, you may end up with plaque build-up.

Using Little Floss

You have to use as much floss as possible. Doing this ensures you use clean sections of the floss as you move it around your teeth. If you use little floss, using the same section or portion of the floss between all your teeth, you simply help the bacteria spread.

For more information, visit your local dentist.

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