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A Dental Hygienist Refresher Course On Flossing

How many times have you heard your dentist and dental hygienist tell you to floss? You nod your head and, maybe, you try flossing for a while. Then old habits take over. Well, it bears repeating: is one of the best things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Bacteria accumulate between the teeth and where the tooth meets gum tissue. Every 24 hours brings a new batch. Brushing won't get rid of the bacteria, flossing correctly will.

Flossing before or after brushing should be a part of your home oral health care program. It doesn't matter which floss you use, and it doesn't require special skills, although practice makes perfect.

Here's a general routine to follow: wrap floss around your fingers, leaving five to six inches to work with. Keep the floss tight.

When the floss frays, re-loop the floss and continue flossing.

If you feel as if you're all thumbs, use a flossing threader. Your dentist or dental hygienist can show you how.

Choose a section of teeth; say your upper molars, which are most difficult to reach. Follow the curve of enamel on every surface, reaching wherever you can, with about three passes each time.

If an opening between teeth is tight, you may have to gently pull the floss toward the gum line. Be careful not to damage soft tissue.

Work from the back teeth toward the front while flossing, and then repeat the process on the other side. Rinse when you're done. The time you invest in plaque removal will pay real dividends at your next dentist cleaning visit. Your dental hygienist will be proud!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Make Your Dental Health a Priority

What's the best thing that's happened to you over the past year? A special vacation you'd been promising yourself? Or purchasing that new car you've had your eye on for a long while?

All of us look forward to pleasure purchases. They add luster to life. And if you think about it, the things we seem to find easiest to afford are the things that make us feel good about ourselves.

Yet, for most of us, number one on the list for a good life is good health. Today we know that good dental health is just as important as your overall physical wellness. After all, you only have one body and one set of adult teeth. How they serve you depends on the priority you assign them.

Make feeling good about yourself a priority. One component may be that dream vacation. But certainly another component is keeping yourself physically healthy enough to enjoy the experience. And that means paying attention to your oral hygiene and practicing preventive dentistry.

You don't need to be told that the actual cash you spend to keep yourself dentally fit is only a tiny fraction of what you spend to feel good about yourself. After all, it's no fun being able to afford a gourmet meal if it's painful to chew and swallow it.

Your dental hygienist will welcome your visit and looks forward to helping you help yourself to dental health with a good dental cleaning.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.