10 Most Common Myths About Flossing

Flossing is one of the best hygiene practices that can improve your health. Thus, get rid of all these myths associated with flossing and practice every day to maintain oral health.

Preventing oral healthcare is more important than going for regular dental checkups. If you want to have a shiny and beautiful smile, the two most important oral care tips include brushing and flossing every day. Unfortunately, while most people brush their teeth diligently, they don’t care much about flossing.

If you want to maintain your oral hygiene, daily flossing is the best method to clean the teeth and under the gum line. Flossing not only cleans the space between teeth, but it also helps in preventing plaque buildup. Daily flossing helps in avoiding damage to teeth as well as gums.

Although dentists recommend that flossing is crucial for everyday oral hygiene maintenance, most people skip this essential oral care practice. The main reason behind this is the myths associated with flossing. Today, we are here to debunk all those myths so that you can understand why flossing is an essential practice.

If you are missing your normal oral hygiene maintenance routine due to the myths associated with flossing, try to get rid of these myths. Floss regularly to have healthy and shiny teeth. Try not to stop flossing unless your dentist recommends you. Restore your oral health with regular flossing. Get in touch with us to know more.

Myth 1: You Need Flossing When Food Gets Caught In Between Teeth

No doubt, flossing is an important and efficient way to get rid of food particles that get stuck in between your teeth. But, this is not the only reason that you need to floss. Regular flossing can also help get rid of dental plaque from your teeth. When dental plaque sits between your teeth, it can cause gum infection and inflammation in the long run. Thus, try to floss every day and not just when the food gets stuck.

Myth 2: Flossing Is A Complicated Process

This is just another myth associated with flossing. If you don’t know how to floss, all you need to do is visit your nearby dentists, and they will help you understand the basic technique of flossing. If you are unable to use the traditional method of flossing, you can also look for a floss holder. This is a Y-shaped device that consists of floss between two prongs. This device can be used single-handedly. It is also helpful in flossing the difficult areas behind your teeth.

Myth 3: Flossing Is A Painful Process

If you are not facing oral health-related issues and using the correct method of flossing, the process should not cause any pain. For people who face gum-related diseases, flossing may feel painful for the initial few days. But with regular application, the pain goes away. If you face pain while flossing, you need to contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Myth 4: Don’t Floss If Your Gums Are Bleeding

Seeing blood when you are flossing may seem too scary. But little bleeding is normal. This is not a big reason for which you need to stop flossing.

No doubt, bleeding while you are flossing may give you a warning about any underlying disease. But some people also bleed because they start flossing too vigorously. If you start bleeding a lot, try to be a bit gentler.

You can also ask your doctor about a few flossing tips so that you don’t have to worry about bleeding. If you see that your gum line is a bit inflamed after flossing, try to get in touch with a dental hygienist.

Myth 5: Flossing Can Make The Situation Of Receding Gums Worse

There is absolutely no truth in this fact that flossing can worsen the condition of receiving gums. The opposite is definitely true. Flossing can be helpful in preventing the gums from receding. The process helps in getting rid of the food particles and bacteria out of the gum line. Thus, if your gum is receding due to conditions like periodontitis, try to floss every day to prevent any further damage.

Myth 6: Flossing Is Difficult For People With Very Tight Teeth

For people who have little to no space between teeth, flossing can be a difficult task. But, this does not mean that you can skip this important part of maintaining oral hygiene. All you need to do is adjust the technique of flossing, and you are good to go. In case you are facing challenges, you can use the seesaw motion for flossing.

Certain flosses are specially designed for tight teeth. For example, you can try to use waxed floss to floss tight teeth. The waxed floss comes up with slippery surfaces that are easier to slide between the surface of the teeth. You can also try to look for thinner dental floss.

Myth 7: People With Braces Should Not Floss

This is the most rubbish myth associated with flossing. No doubt, flossing can be challenging when you have braces but failing to floss for months and years when you have braces is not a good idea. There is no point in getting beautiful and straight teeth if your teeth remain unhealthy. If you face problems with flossing because of braces, you can ask your dentist to help you get the best technique for flossing.

Myth 8: Flossing Cause The Fall Out Of Filling

If the fillings are in good condition, there is no way possible that flossing will lead to a fallout. A filling that is loose and fractured will definitely fall out whether you floss or not.

Myth 9: Kids Don’t Need Flossing

This is the most common misconception related to flossing. The actual reality is that kids should try to start flossing as soon as they can. This way, they will be able to maintain good oral hygiene. If a child is less than ten years in age, parents can help them with flossing.

Myth 10: Use Mouthwash Instead Of Flossing

Just like brushing, using mouthwash won’t enable you to get rid of the particles that are stuck in between teeth. No doubt, using mouthwash can be a good addition to your oral hygiene, but make sure to floss regularly to get maximum benefits.

Conclusion

You will be shocked to know that not more than 2% to 5% of people floss regularly. In fact, the majority of people don’t floss because of the myths we have mentioned above. You should try to floss not unless your dental hygienist tells you to. If you want your teeth and gums to be healthy, make sure to floss every day.