We are all aware of the benefits flossing has for our dental health.
According to research, flossing can even lower our risk of heart disease and other serious conditions.
However, did you realize that improper flossing might compromise the health of your entire body in addition to your dental health?
Here are four typical flossing problems and some advice on how to prevent them, which can compromise your health and be expensive.
The first flossing error is zombie flossing.
The first error that most people do while flossing is to just follow the procedure without considering what we’re doing or what the floss can reveal about our dental health at the moment.
We frequently discuss how important it is to raise awareness of our oral hygiene practices. Many years ago, the phrase “conscious flossing” was created to express the notion that we may increase awareness of a seemingly insignificant practice like brushing our teeth.
The drawbacks of flossing subconsciously, or “zombie flossing,” include the fact that we miss out on valuable information that may be obtained by “reading” the segments of floss that have been utilized and the potential for harm from improper flossing technique.
Therefore, let’s begin by being mindful when we floss. Yes, we occasionally floss while engaging in other activities, such as watching a movie. However, we may still listen to what our flossing session has to say.
The remedy for zombie flossing
Just observe what colors and scents show up on the floss section that was used between two teeth.
Instead of “snapping and running” to the next set of teeth, pause to “read the floss” and see the relationship between the two teeth you just brushed. Does the used floss section have any color? Is there a smell? The last time you flossed, did you smell or see color here?
A very useful first line of defense is to pay a little attention to what our floss tells us about any possible infection between two teeth (particularly molars!). This way, we may take action and prevent any gum infection from spreading.
The second flossing error is using insufficient floss.
Alright, so our family is rather frugal. We tend to collect glass bottles and reuse plastic bags.
However, each of us uses at least 18 inches of floss per session. Here’s why.
Have you ever reached the final few teeth in your flossing regimen only to run out of floss? You just “back up” a couple of winds from your “used floss finger” and continue, correct?
This might have resulted in the movement of thug bugs from one infected gum pocket to an uninfected area of your mouth. However, flossing is a great method to “plant seeds” of thug bugs into the gum pocket, where they may grow and flourish. Yes, the bugs do travel around the mouth rather effectively on their own.
Simply put, the risk is not worth it.
Using forceful, aggressive strokes while pulling the floss firmly is the third flossing error.
We floss primarily for two reasons:
- to clean the spaces between our teeth of any food particles and plaque.
- to disperse any thug bugs and stop them from setting up shop in any gum pockets.
When achieving the two aforementioned goals, keep in mind that our gum tissue enjoys being massaged and stimulated.
Our gum tissue, however, dislikes being tormented.
Over time, we might harm our gums by rapidly snapping into the gum pocket and vigorously pounding on the gum tissue. Gum recession is the result of the tissue recoiling from repeated abuse of the gums.
The remedy for applying a forceful flossing method
Try flossing with an aikido or tai chi attitude instead of an MMA (mixed martial arts) one.
Instead of keeping the floss at a hyper tensile tension, let it be a little slack while you floss. Plaque may be removed and any remaining bugs can be disturbed more effectively if you hold a slack of floss and carefully wrap it around the curvature of each tooth.
Remember not to pound on the gums. Once in the gum pocket and “hugging” the tooth’s curve, move the floss down as far as it will go while maintaining a gentle yet tight grip. Then, back up the tooth. Repeat two or three times. Next, repeat on the other “side” of the two teeth’s point of contact.
Flossing error #4: Unusual flossing practices
There are professionals who argue against flossing. The majority of specialists in the “anti-flossing” side cite the same studies that indicate flossing may push oral germs into the bloodstream and result in “infective endocarditis,” or inflammation of the heart tissue.
The problem is that if we don’t floss frequently, the insect populations increase and get more powerful, which leads to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gum tissue that bleeds readily. The hooligan bugs can reach the bloodstream because of this specific inflammatory condition.
Gingivitis is stopped in its tracks by regular flossing.
Therefore, the issue with inconsistent flossing practices is that we are probably enabling the growth of harmful insect populations, which in turn permits the development of gum inflammation. We run a higher danger of allowing bugs to enter our bloodstream if we floss at that time.
The remedy for sporadic flossing
It’s simply that easy: flossing on a regular basis.
While flossing every day is beneficial, research indicates that flossing at least every other day is “regular” enough to prevent the colonization of the gum line by harmful insect populations.
Flossing is a simple yet crucial practice that we should make a part of our everyday routine when you think about how effective it is in reducing the risk of disease across the entire body.
How to get the most out of flossing
Let’s put everything into a brief “To-Do” list:
- Floss mindfully. After every encounter, check for color and scent.
- In order to utilize a clean section for every touch, use a lot of floss.
- Instead of having a “no mercy” mentality, use “tai chi” hands to floss your teeth.
- For better cleaning, let the floss wrap around each tooth.
- At the absolute least, floss every other day.
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