Flossing

Flossing is a very important aspect of dental care, although Indians are not used to flossing and find it difficult to incorporate it in their daily schedule.

Flossing helps remove plaque and debris from between the teeth and areas which are inaccessible with a toothbrush.

Technique of flossing

• Wrap 18 inches of floss around the middle finger.
• Using your thumb and forefinger of the other hand, gently pass the floss between your teeth.
• When floss reaches the gums, gently curve it into a C shape against one tooth and slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel the pressure against your gums.
• Gently scrape the side of the tooth with the floss while pulling the floss up through the contact.
• Do not use the used area of floss again.

Some flossing tips

• Floss holders are also available if you cannot easily hold the floss.
• Initially, there would be bleeding of the gums.
• Tenderness after flossing the first several times is completely normal.
• If bleeding persists after one week of regular flossing, consult a dental surgeon.

Flossing is a great way to clean the spaces between the teeth, which you might not be able to do with brushing. Flossing should be done at least once a day. Other oral hygiene aids like water-pik can also be effectively used for cleaning interdental areas.

Rinsing

Rinsing the mouth with water is a very convenient method to clean oral cavities.

Thorough rinsing after every meal goes a long way in protecting your teeth and gums from decaying.

Fluorides

Fluoride in the proper amount is necessary for teeth. Fluorides are salts of fluorine, which, in an optimum amount, are known to prevent caries. So when fluorides are applied topically on to the tooth in caries-prone teeth, remineralisation occurs and decay is prevented.

Fluorides can be applied by patients themselves in the form of toothpaste, floss, mouthwashes, etc.

Pit and fissure sealants

Very deep pits and fissures on chewing surfaces cause food residue to lodge and become bacteria which causes dental decay. These can be avoided by using certain materials which seal these fissures effectively, thereby preventing decay.

80 percent of cavities in childhood occur on the chewing surface of the back teeth. Due to deep pits and fissures, the bacteria settles there and uses the food present to create cavity causing acid.

Sealants are thin coatings of resin and are applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth.

They act as a physical barrier to prevent bacteria and food from collecting in the grooves and fissures. Sealants are usually applied to the permanent first molars which erupt around the age of 6 and the second molars at 12 years of age.

Applied in a simple and short procedure, sealants dramatically reduce childhood cavities. The procedure is quick and painless and the sealants can easily be replaced if lost.