You may faithfully brush your teeth every day, twice a day for two minutes at a time, which is great! But if you forget to floss, you are leaving about 35 percent of the surfaces if your teeth uncleaned. Plaque and cavities can develop between your teeth just as they do on the fronts and the backs.
But that leaves the question of what kind of floss you should use. Floss does come in different varieties. For example, there is nylon and monofilament floss. Between the two, monofilament is less likely to shred as you use it. Many people find that waxed floss is easier to use than unwaxed, since it glides between teeth and around dental work easily. There are flavored varieties of floss, which taste good, and may help freshen your breath. There is even floss on the market that claims to help fight bad breath.
While everyone needs to clean between their teeth, not everyone can use it. If you have orthodontic work, or have a bridge or fixed retainer, you may want to use a floss threader or a floss pick. An interdental brush may also work well. A water flosser may be a good solution for people who have range-of-motion issues. You need to floss at least once a day. You can floss before or after you brush, just so long as you do a thorough job of both.
If you have questions about cleaning between your teeth, our dentists have answers. If you live in the Ashburn, Virginia area and would like to make an appointment at Costa Dentistry, give us a call at 703-542-7000 today!