Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. And like toothbrushes, there are different types of floss. Which is the right floss for you? We’re going to break down the differences between types of flosses and give some tips on how best to use this important dental tool.
Waxed vs. Unwaxed
The biggest decision you have to make when it comes to floss is whether or not to use waxed or unwaxed. The choice is completely up to you and each has their own pros and cons, but the main determining factor seems to be tooth spacing.
Those with tightly positioned teeth tend to prefer unwaxed floss. It is thinner than waxed floss and can therefore more easily slip in between tightly packed teeth. The downside to unwaxed floss is its tendency to break and shred.
People with more space between their teeth prefer waxed floss. Since they don’t need to worry about needing a thin floss to get into tight spaces, they can afford to use the thicker, more durable waxed version. Waxed floss also has the added benefit of less friction as it moves across your teeth and gums.
Unwaxed Nylon vs. Polytetrafluoroethylene
That’s right, we said polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as PTFE. Your typical floss (waxed and unwaxed) is made from nylon, whereas PTFE floss is made from the same material as high-tech rain gear like Gore-Tex. When used as a floss, PTFE is great for tightly packed teeth AND is less prone to breakage. For those with tightly packed teeth, the choice is between unwaxed nylon or PTFE, and this comes down to personal preference – some prefer the feel of one over the other.
Waxed Nylon vs. Dental Tape
We discussed the reasons why those with wider spaces between their teeth prefer waxed floss. Dental tape, a broader, flatter alternative to floss, is also great for loosely spaced teeth. Again, the choice here is personal preference with regard to what feels better.
Proper Flossing Technique
Here’s a short video on proper flossing technique in case you need a refresher.
How you floss is very important, so let’s review proper techniques and common mistakes.
DO use an arm’s length of floss. Any shorter and you won’t have enough to cover all of your teeth.
DO wrap 6 inches of floss around your middle fingers and use them to control the movement of the floss.
DO move the floss in an up-and-down motion between where the tooth and gum meet to remove food particles.
DO use a new and clean section of floss each time you move in between two new teeth.
DO floss once a day.
DON’T slide floss lengthwise between your teeth, as this could injure your gums.
DON’T move floss in an overly aggressive manner. Pushing too hard or flossing too fast won’t remove any more bacteria than flossing gently and could harm your gums.
DON’T skip days – make sure you floss every day!
Flossing with Braces
Having braces is no excuse for a lax attitude toward flossing, but having orthodontics does make it more difficult to floss successfully. For those with braces, we recommend using waxed floss with a floss threader. Use the threader to pull the floss between the wire of your braces and your teeth, then floss between your teeth as you would normally. Remove the floss and repeat this process with the next two teeth.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to floss this way for every space between your teeth, top and bottom. But remember, the benefits are worth it – a happy healthy smile once your braces are taken off!
Still have flossing questions? Give us a call at 207-781-5900 – we’re happy to help!
Following routine oral care responsibilities during the holiday season can prove to be challenging. This is the time of year when sugary, delicious sweets are a staple at every holiday party and gathering you attend. It’s a time of tasty meals and sweet drinks. The holiday season is when the threat of cavities becomes all too real. To help you mind your dental hygiene, we’ve put together some oral health tips anyone can successfully follow. At Falmouth Dental Arts, we want your teeth to be clean, cavity-free, and happy!
Eat your sugars all at once. Too much sugar consumed in one sitting can be overwhelming for your taste buds, but it’s actually in the best interest of your teeth to do so. If you’re going to eat sugary desserts during the holidays, do your best to eat them in one sitting. Stretching out the consumption of sugarcoated treats will only expose your teeth to risk of cavities longer. With long exposure comes the chance for the bacteria in sugars to produce acid and eat away at your enamel. Do your teeth a favor and limit your teeth to one brief taste of sugars.
Maintain your routine. Even during the holiday season when our lives are busy with hosting holiday parties and traveling to see family and friends, it’s critical to maintain your dental hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth should be a priority at least twice a day, but try for three if you’re consuming more food than usual. You don’t want food particles to get lodged between your teeth this holiday. Be as thorough with brushing and flossing as possible.
Aim for the best teeth-friendly treats. If you’re attending holiday parties with buffets and feasts, try to aim for food types your teeth will love. Options including cheeses, meats, or nuts are great choices that will help protect your enamel. These foods are known to neutralize acids and provide the calcium and phosphorus needed to keep minerals in your teeth.
Avoid the worst foods for your teeth. If possible, try to avoid foods like candy, cookies, cakes, breads, muffins, chips, or dried fruits. These foods are known to contain sugars that will produce bacteria and acid on your teeth. Keep your dental hygiene a number one priority by avoiding these cavity-causing foods.
Maintaining optimal dental care during the holidays is a challenge we all face. Tasty desserts and warm bread may call to our taste buds, but if you indulge try to do so in moderation. Long exposure to these foods may cause you a cavity or two. Do your best to make smart, healthy food choices during the holidays. Above all else, remember to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash after meals.
If you have any questions about how best to maintain healthy teeth and gums this holiday season, please give us a call at 207-781-5900. Happy holidays!
You may have seen the big headlines recently about flossing not being what it is cracked up to be. The Food and Drug Administration, along with the entire dental industry, has been promoting flossing as an important part of your oral health regimen since 1979. Unfortunately, the FDA was forced to recant the importance of flossing because of a ‘lack’ of solid research. We at Falmouth Dental Arts remain steadfast in our recommendation for flossing once a day. Here’s why.
Though research is important in any scientific or medical field, so is anecdotal proof. We, and many other dental professionals, have countless stories of patients who have suffered from a lack of flossing. We have seen the benefits people gain from flossing daily, and the harm a lack of flossing can cause.
Think of a tooth as a cube. Brushing helps clean the top and two sides of the cube, but cannot make direct contact with the two adjacent sides. This is where flossing comes in, being able to remove food particles where brushing cannot. Not flossing is like getting your car washed, but never cleaning the salt off the undercarriage – every New Englander knows how that will end!
The recent Associated Press article and Food and Drug Administration decision will lead to more thorough flossing research being performed. We, along with the vast majority of the dental industry, are confident that we know what the results of this research will be – floss, Floss, FLOSS!
If you have any questions about flossing or other oral health recommendations, please give us a call at 207-781-5900.
We all know how packed candies are with sugars, but during Halloween the temptation for sweet treats is too great to resist. A few pieces here and there are fine to eat in moderation, but too many candies will load devilish sugars on our teeth and eat away at our enamel if we don’t follow a proper brushing and flossing routine. How can we enjoy Halloween’s customary perks of eating candy while maintaining good oral health? There are several ways you can do both during this year’s festive night.
Limit time eating candy. The amount of time your teeth are exposed to sugary candies plays a big role in maintaining proper oral health. If you eat a meal and treat yourself to a piece or two of candy immediately after, your teeth are better off. This is because saliva production increases when you eat meals and cancels out the acid bacteria produces in your mouth. By eating candy directly after a meal, your saliva will help rinse away food particles and candy sugars quickly.
Choose candies sensibly. Hard candies are the absolute worst. The amount of time they linger in your mouth, spreading sugars along your teeth, can contribute to tooth decay. Similarly, if you bite down on a hard sucker you may risk cracking a molar. To be safe, choose candies like chocolates that disappear quickly. Your teeth will be exposed to sugars much shorter this way.
Avoid sticky candies. Candy like taffy, caramel, and gummies stick to your teeth relentlessly. Long after you’ve finished chewing, particles of these sticky treats may remain stuck to your molars, eating away at your enamel. You want to be sure you avoid these dental threats as best you can to reduce the chances of getting tooth decay.
Brush, floss, and drink water. Of course, if you can’t avoid sneaking in a few candies during October’s customary holiday, remember to take care of your teeth after snacking. Brush well, floss, and drink water. Following this routine after consuming sugary snacks (or any meal) is good practice to maintain optimal oral health.
This Halloween, try out some of our tips to enjoy a tooth-friendly holiday. Don’t forget to schedule your next cleaning, if it’s not on the calendar already. Call us at (207) 781-5900 to book an appointment.
Many of us are familiar with ozone, the triple bonded oxygen molecule, because of the role it plays in our atmosphere. When used in dentistry, ozone therapy can have amazing oral health benefits and it is one of a handful of holistic options we offer at Falmouth Dental Arts.
Ozone is a very effective oxidizer: the molecule itself carries a strong negative charge. This negative charge is attracted to the positive charges found on many harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, amoebas, and fungi. When bonded to a negatively charged cell membrane, the ozone causes a rupture which kills the pathogen, as illustrated here. Compared to chlorine, one molecule of ozone kills pathogens 3,000 to 10,000 times more efficiently and 3,500 times faster.
The cell membranes of our own cells and helpful parasites contain antioxidants that do not react with ozone. Therefore, ozone therapy has no effect on the cells we want to keep intact. In this way, ozone therapy is a great tool for treating oral infection and disease with a naturally occurring, broad spectrum substance with no toxicity or side effects.
We’ve outlined specific uses of ozone in dentistry. Feel free to give us a call to make your next holistic dental appointment.
Ozone Uses
Cavities
Ozone gas can be used to treat cavities. The gas allows ozone to seep into the deepest grooves and pits of the teeth. In addition to killing bacteria on contact, ozone promotes the re-calcification of tooth structure, which increases tooth strength and reduced sensitivity. If a cavity has developed and needs a restoration, a tooth-colored composite filling will be placed after the cavity has been removed and the tooth has been sterilized with ozone.
Gum Disease
Used in combinations of gas and liquid, ozone is an ideal adjunct treatment for gum disease, which is often caused by bacteria. Ozone gas and ozonated water can be applied to gum tissue and the gum pockets where it will oxidize and kill the “bad” bacteria that are destroying connective tissues. This will promote healing and increase the treatment’s success rate.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a routine procedure used to treat an infection within the pulp chamber of a tooth. Ozonated water or ozone gas can be used during the root canal procedure to kill existing bacteria, sterilize the root canal tubules and accessory canals, and promote faster healing. In gas form, ozone can reach places other techniques and products cannot. This ensures successful treatment in the long term.
Sensitivity
Teeth that have become weakened, worn down, or have receding gums may become overly sensitive. Ozone gas can be used to harden the existing tooth structure and close off the pores on the root surface, which decreases the tooth’s sensitivity. This treatment has a high success rate and can mean the end of avoiding favorite foods or drink.
Ozone for All!
Here in the office we are able to generate ozone by using pure medical grade oxygen passed through a corona discharge generator. This will produce therapeutic ozone in the form of liquid or gas. Our ozone generator allows us to produce pure, contaminate free, predictable and precise concentrations of therapeutic ozone. Ozone is safe, effective, and produces no byproducts. It simply breaks down into oxygen and water.
Ozone has no associated medical complications. We are therefore able to use ozone on all of our patients regardless of age, health, or medication use. It is a wonderful adjunct treatment that helps boost the success rate of almost any dental treatment. Give us a call to learn more about using ozone at your next appointment.
