The use of dental floss and regular teeth brushing are the
two key operations of correct oral hygiene. Both help remove the bacterial
plaque, food debris, reduce gum disease, cavities and eliminate bad breath. The
two operations must be performed on a daily basis as recommended by a Centennial dentist office.
Brushing is recommended at least twice a day, in the morning
and in the evening. A tooth brush is design to mechanically remove food debris,
but only from accessible surfaces.
On the other hand, dental floss is able to remove about 40%
of the bacterial plaque, which is responsible for caries or gum disease, as
well as food debris from hard-to-reach areas. It is also designed to allow
fluoride and other or chemically-active substances penetrate in these areas and
protect them against bacteria.
Dental floss should be used as often as teeth brushing. However,
many people do not know when it is the right time to use dental floss: prior or
after it?
The answer is before teeth brushing and the explanation is
logical: by dislodging food debris, dental floss opens the door to the toothpaste
to penetrate more easily into those otherwise inaccessible places and protect
them against caries.