The Flossing makes teeth healthy

Flossing makes teeth healthy

Here Many of us think that we have good and healthy teeth, whereas 95 per cent individuals above the age of 35 years have gum (periodontal) disease. Dental caries is present in 65-70 per cent of children, even at 12 years. People think they have no dental disease even though they are harbouring it is because both dental caries and gum disease begin painlessly.

Dental caries and gum disease are preventable by simple means. An important measure is thorough cleaning of the teeth using toothbrush, dental floss and an inter-dental brush. Normally when we brush we take care of the front, back and top surfaces of the teeth, and stress more on the visible parts. These surfaces of the teeth, where we usually concentrate, in fact also get partially cleaned by the rub of fibrous food.

The sides of the teeth, adjacent to the adjoining teeth — mesial and distal surfaces (proximal surfaces) — are not cleaned by routine brushing nor by the friction of the food. These surfaces, which are often missed and ignored, gather more dirt - bacteria. Bacteria multiply in this protected environment inflicting by both dental caries and gum disease on these surfaces, even in the most diligent toothbrush users.

To clean the sides of the teeth, dental floss and inter-dental brush are required. Dental floss manufactured by various firms is available most chemist shops.

Method to use floss: Take about six inches of floss, hold it between two hands and roll it on one or both fingers so that about two inches remain between the two hands. This portion is passed between the teeth. Use short see-saw strokes so that the floss does not enter the proximal area with a thud, but softly. The floss is rubbed vertically on the mesial and distal surfaces individually.

Move it from the gum downwards for the upper teeth and gum upwards for the teeth in the lower jaw. This movement of rubbing is performed at least six to seven times on each surface like the repeated brushing of the front surfaces of teeth. It should be remembered that flossing of teeth is not just passing the floss between the teeth and taking out, but is meant to clean the mesial and distal surfaces of the teeth by rubbing the action described above.

Initially, it feels difficult and should be practised in front of a looking glass. Each time floss is taken out of the mouth after cleaning the mesial or distal surface, some material sticks to it. This material is a part of dental plaque and should be wiped or washed off each time. The rubbing action of floss on the teeth is repeated till the time the floss comes out clean. Gradually, with practice, the use floss becomes easier and easier and can be performed without the help of a mirror.

The trick to learn flossing is to start from the space where we got stuck last time. Another important point is to start from the front teeth and sequentially go to the back teeth. The reverse movement is not desirable because the bacteria in back teeth are anaerobic (harmful) and when we floss from the back to the front teeth there is a likelihood of infecting the front teeth with harmful anaerobic bacteria.

Another important point to remember is that if the gums bleed during flossing, do not stop flossing. Rather increase the frequency.and the bleeding will stop. In case it does not even after flossing twice a day for three-four days, this means there is gum disease and a dentist should be consulted.

Interdental brushes look like mini-bottle brushes. These are also meant to clean the mesial and distal surfaces (proximal surfaces). The method consists of entering the inter-dental area and brushing against the mesial and distal surfaces by the to-and-fro movement of the interdental brush with at least six to seven stokes each side. Floss is meant to be used during the early ages of life when the inter-dental spaces are narrow. In the later ages, when the gum recedes with advancing age or due to gum disease, the inter-dental brushing can be started. The use of dental floss should also be continued at this age as it helps clean the contact areas of the teeth.

Comprehensive tooth cleaning involves the use of toothbrush, dental floss and inter-dental brush. Remember, inter-dental cleaning with dental floss and inter-dental brush is more important than the routine brushing of the teeth.