When it comes to providing your teeth excellent preventive care, one item that is often overlooked is flossing. It’s like a final step that just seems like too much work but that is essential in protecting your teeth from the damage associated with tooth decay and gum disease. Wondering if when you do floss (which you should do every day) you’re doing it correctly? Test your knowledge and make any necessary changes for a truly healthy smile.
Flossing: True or False?
- True or False: The best way to approach flossing is to tear off short strands of floss, each of which you may use to clean between two teeth.
- True or False: We encourage you to floss after every meal to make sure you’re keeping your smile as clean and plaque-free as possible.
- True or False: The main goal with flossing your teeth is to keep food particles from between your teeth – they can be unsightly and irritate your gum tissue.
Flossing Quiz Answer Key
- False. It’s true that you want to use fresh floss for each portion of your smile. However, it’s not very effective to break off small segments. Instead, you should use one long segment of dental floss, moving from one end to the other. Start with a piece with a length that measures around 18 inches, so you don’t need to stop and start again.
- False. If you would like to brush after meals, you may rinse your mouth and then wait about a half hour to brush your teeth. However, it’s only important that you floss your teeth once a day, preferably in the evening to ensure you remove any food particles before you go to bed.
- False. It is certainly important to remove the food particles from between your teeth that become lodged there during the day. While it’s a perk that floss makes your smile look nicer, the goal is to remove food because bacteria cling to it. In addition, the goal of floss is to remove plaque to prevent cavity development and periodontal disease.
ABOUT YOUR DALLAS, TX FAMILY DENTISTS:
Dr. Tran, Dr. Hoang, and the friendly, welcoming staff at Gentle Smiles will do everything possible to make you feel at home. Contact us today by calling 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE) to experience our compassionate, effective, and individualized care. We proudly serve patients from Dallas, TX, and all surrounding communities, including Mesquite, Balch Springs, Garland, and Seagoville.
