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Importance of Proper Brushing and Flossing Williston Park NY


Happy woman smiling while brushing her teeth at Long Island Smile in Williston Park, NYMaintaining your oral hygiene is important not just for your mouth, teeth, and gums, but also aids in your overall health. Numerous scientific studies have found a correlation between gum disease and health issues such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Maintaining a healthy mouth aids in digestion. The digestion process starts in the mouth, and having clean, healthy teeth helps break down food more efficiently, laying the groundwork for the rest of the digestive system. Finally, by keeping up with your oral hygiene, you're preventing future dental issues.

Adopting the Right Practices


Regular brushing, flossing, and dentist visits can save you from potential pain, complications, and further treatments down the road.

However, understanding the importance of oral hygiene is just the first step. The real challenge lies in adopting the right practices and making them a part of your daily routine. After all, a healthy smile is a powerful tool—it can spread positivity, and communicate happiness, and it's often the first thing people notice about you.

This includes regular brushing and flossing of your teeth, as well as scheduling routine dental exams and cleanings.

How often should I brush my teeth?


To maintain healthy, vibrant teeth and gums, you should aim to brush your teeth at least twice a day, typically in the morning and before you go to bed at night. But that's the very minimum. For optimal dental health, consider brushing after each meal. This helps to remove food particles that can lead to plaque buildup and dental decay.

However, it's equally crucial to balance this against the risk of over-brushing. Brushing more than three times a day could potentially wear down your enamel and cause sensitivity in your teeth. Remember, it's about quality, not just quantity. A properly executed, thorough brushing twice a day can be more beneficial than numerous rushed ones.

Importance of Proper Techniques While Brushing Teeth


It's not just when and how often you brush your teeth, but how you brush that matters. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, angle it at a 45-degree towards the gum line. Move the brush in short, tooth-wide strokes. Make sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth - the outer surface, inner surface, and chewing surface.

If you've consumed something acidic, like citrus or soda, don't rush to brush your teeth right away. Acidic substances soften your enamel, and brushing immediately after consuming them can have damaging effects. Instead, it's advised to wait about 30 to 60 minutes before brushing.

Young man looking in the mirror and flossing at Long Island Smile in Williston Park, NY

What is the Correct Way to Floss Teeth?


Flossing might seem straightforward, but you'd be surprised at how often people get it wrong. Perfecting your flossing technique can help maximize the benefits of this daily ritual.

First off, let's start with the type of floss you should use. Dental floss comes in many types: waxed, unwaxed, thick, thin, flavored, or unflavored. The important thing is to choose one that suits you the best. If you have tight gaps between your teeth, a thinly waxed floss can be helpful.

Here's a step-by-step guide to properly flossing your teeth:

•  Pull out approximately 18 inches of floss from the dispenser. This might seem like a lot, but you'll need enough to maintain a clean segment for each tooth.

•  Wrap the majority of the floss around your middle fingers leaving about an inch or two of floss to work with.

•  Hold the floss tight between your thumbs and index fingers, and slide it gently up and down between your teeth.

•  Curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this could bruise or cut the delicate gum tissues.

•  Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

Remember, the importance of flossing and the goal is to dislodge food particles and plaque stuck between your teeth and along your gum line areas that your toothbrush can't reach.

How Often Should I Floss My Teeth?


Ideally, you should floss at least once a day. This helps to remove the plaque and food that's beyond the reach of your toothbrush. Remember, that if you skip too many days between flossing, plaque turns into tartar—something you cannot remove with floss.

Why Do I Need to Brush and Floss My Teeth Regularly?


Brushing and flossing are more than just rituals to start and end your day. They are vital measures to protect your teeth and gums from damage and disease. Deeply ingrained in our daily routines, these practices are our frontline against oral health issues, maintaining not just our smile, but our overall well being.

Brushing your teeth removes the day's buildup of plaque and bacteria, cleans the surface of your teeth, and prevents cavities. Flossing reaches the areas where your toothbrush doesn't. Therefore, flossing gets rid of any food particles and bacteria stuck between your teeth and along your gum line.

Often overlooked or rushed, these tasks deserve more focus and importance in daily life, reaping rewards for our oral and overall health.

Other Benefits of Regular Brushing and Flossing


In addition to the removal of plaque and prevention of tartar buildup, regular tooth brushing and flossing also has additional benefits:

•  Prevention of dental diseases: Brushing and flossing are the most effective ways to remove plaque from your teeth and gum line, which left untreated can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

•  Fresh breath: Daily brushing and flossing can keep your breath fresh and your mouth feeling clean. These actions remove food particles and other substances that can lead to bad breath.

•  Maintaining overall health: Research suggests a direct correlation between oral health and general health. Bad oral hygiene can lead to serious health concerns, like heart disease.

Schedule a Checkup with our Long island dentist


Remember, it is always a good idea to discuss your brushing routine and habits with our dentist in Williston Park NY. We can provide personalized advice and tips based on your specific dental health situation. Moreover, regular dental check-ups are vital for maintaining good oral health. Schedule an appointment with Long Island Smile by calling us at (516) 243-7473.
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Williston Park | Importance of Proper Brushing and Flossing
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Long Island Smile, 101 Hillside Avenue, Suite A, Williston Park, NY 11596 • (516) 243-7473 • longislandsmile.com • 7/18/2024 • Tags: dentist Williston Park NY •