5 Tips To Flossing

Flossing is the key dental habit you need in order to prevent periodontal disease. There is no other alternative or option for removing food from between the teeth.  While you can brush the front and back of your teeth, bristles of a toothbrush do not effectively remove food.   Here are five tips from Dr. Rice on how to floss.

1.     Utilize floss you like. Don’t waste time and money on floss that is not comfortable for you to use or you do not like. Find one that works for you and try different kinds until you find one that motivates you to floss.

2.     Set a particular time everyday when you are going to floss. Setting up the routine is the key to creating a habit.

3.     Dr.Denine Rice, suggests, “Listen to music or sports while flossing.”  Pairing flossing with something you do like can shift your brain to think positively about an experience you don’t necessarily enjoy.

4.     Put the floss in multiple locations in your house. If you have floss in a bathroom downstairs, put it upstairs as well. Or place floss in the kitchen drawer if helps to remind you to brush.

5.     Floss everyday. The more consistently you floss the less likely you are to have problems from not flossing. Non-flossing can cause bleeding gums, swollen or puffy gums. Once you have those early signs of disease, flossing can cause pain or uncomfortable feelings. This can decrease your desire to floss resulting in more damage and potential tooth loss.

Contact Dr. Rice and her team today for more information.