{"id":383,"date":"2018-02-03T23:27:34","date_gmt":"2018-02-03T23:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=383"},"modified":"2025-02-20T18:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:40:15","slug":"flossing-isnt-just-after-dinner-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longfamilydental.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/03\/flossing-isnt-just-after-dinner-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Flossing Isn\u2019t Just for After Dinner, According to Your Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>You may have noticed that your favorite restaurant offers toothpicks at the end of your meal to remove food debris from your teeth. While this is a nice gesture, it\u2019s not a good way to remove food debris in the first place. What they should be offering is a box of floss or a floss pick, but that\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n

According to your dentist<\/a>, flossing isn\u2019t just for removing food particles from you mouth. It\u2019s also about removing excess plaque and preventing tartar that builds up over time. To do this, you\u2019ll need to incorporate flossing into your at-home oral care routine.<\/p>\n

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What is Plaque and Tartar?<\/h2>\n

Plaque is a sticky substance that builds up all around your teeth throughout the day as you eat and drink. If you run your finger against your teeth, it won\u2019t be as smooth as you expect it to be. That\u2019s because millions of bacteria are stuck to your teeth, producing acid from the sugars you eat and wearing down your enamel.<\/p>\n

Tartar is a hardened form of plaque that can severely damage your gumline if not removed. However, this form of plaque can only be removed by your dentist.<\/p>\n

Where Your Toothbrush Falls Short<\/h2>\n

When you brush, you remove about 60 percent of plaque that builds up daily on the surface and sides of your teeth. However, the bristles can only go so far, even if you use an electronic toothbrush. When you floss, you\u2019re able to remove the remaining 40 percent that lives in the deep nooks and crannies of your mouth.<\/p>\n

Technically, each of your teeth have five surfaces: the front, back, the two sides, and the chewing surfaces. Plaque easily collects on all of these areas, meaning you\u2019ll need to use the right tools in order to remove all of it. It\u2019s worth flossing to remove this plaque, especially if you care about retaining a whiter smile. Collected plaque contributes highly to the color of your smile.<\/p>\n

How to Make Flossing Easier<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s understandable that flossing isn\u2019t the easiest habit to pick up, especially fi you weren\u2019t flossing at a young age. Luckily, there are tools available to make it much easier. This ideal for patients that lack the dexterity and precision to do it the traditional way. Keep these tips in the next time you go to floss or while shopping for your next toothbrush:<\/p>\n