Flossing is a necessity of life. It is something that can help to protect your gum health. Flossing and brushing alone aren't likely to be enough for most people.
But regardless of which group you fall into, flossing is an essential part of daily life. If you were to get gum disease, you could lose your teeth or watch your gums recede or both. You don't want this to happen to you.
It is best to develop good oral care habits as soon as possible. Yet, you might be someone who already has excellent oral hygiene habits.
Regardless, you can benefit from using dental tape instead of dental floss. Unless you are like me and you have some crowded teeth, you could probably use dental tape only. I have some crowded and tight areas, so I use both tape and regular floss. Obviously, I use the thin stuff in the tight areas.
What I discovered to be true for me, from the use of dental tape, is that it did a much better job of cleaning my teeth. In fact, there were a couple of times where I could use that tape to actually remove a stain from my teeth!
This is when I realized that dental tape was doing a better job. If you think about it, this is very logical. The dental tape is wider and thicker. It covers more surface area. It is simple physics.
I like to take the dental tape and watch what I'm doing in a mirror. I observe as I try to cover every exposed area of my teeth or at least as much as I can reach. I like to use multiple back-and-forth or up-and-down motions on my teeth.
If your gums bleed, it is almost a certain sign that you have gum disease. Your gums should neither bleed or hurt from flossing. Of course, if you push to deep they will. But, really, you shouldn't feel pain or have any bleeding from normal flossing. If you do see some bleeding, get with your dentist to confirm the existence of gum disease.
Don't be surprised if you have it. Many people do have some form of gum disease. Statistics vary quite a bit, but somewhere between forty and eighty percent of the population has some form of gum disease right now, depending upon whom you listen do.
You can stop gum disease from progressing further. It is hard to get lost gum tissue back. So it is best to stop it now if you show any signs of gum disease. More tools will probably be necessary than just brushing, flossing and using mouthwash.
This article is for information purposes only, merely reflects the author's opinion, and is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat gum disease. You should only learn proper flossing techniques from your dentist or hygienist and not from the Internet. If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other oral health problem, contact your dentist for diagnosis, advice and treatment.
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