When was the last time you flossed? For many of the patients, the answer is not very recently. We wonder why that is on occasion. Most of our patients remember to brush their teeth in the evening (and hopefully in the morning as well). But many of them don\u2019t floss. <\/p>\n
We believe this to be because of some of the misinformation surrounding flossing, specifically a few common myths. In today\u2019s post from the ongoing dental blog of Bayou Dental Group in Monroe, LA, we want to address some of these myths. <\/p>\n
Myth #1: Floss is For Removing Food Stuck In Your Teeth<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re enjoying a nice steak dinner, when a bit of fat gets stuck in your teeth. It\u2019s not only annoying, it can actually be a little painful as well. If you\u2019re at home you may grab your dusty box of floss, if you\u2019re at a restaurant you go for a toothpick.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what floss if for right? It\u2019s definitely great at removing food from your teeth. It\u2019s also a lot safer to use than a toothpick. Toothpicks can break apart in your mouth, and scrape your gums. <\/p>\n But floss is for far more than removing food from your teeth. Bacteria gathers on your teeth as you chew. A lot of this sneaks up in between your teeth, where it hardens into acidic plaque. This plaque causes decay and cavities. Flossing is ideal from removing this plaque, as it can help scrape it off.<\/p>\n Myth #2: It\u2019s Normal to Bleed With You Floss<\/strong><\/p>\n If you were brushing your hair, and then your scalp started to bleed, how would you react? You\u2019d probably freak out right? That would clearly be a sign that something was wrong with your scalp.<\/p>\n But what happens when you floss? Do your gums bleed? If they do, that\u2019s not a good thing; it should be considered the furthest thing from a natural reaction to flossing. You should take it as a warning sign to change whatever it is that you\u2019re going. <\/p>\n This often means just using less force when you floss. Don\u2019t saw away at your teeth, it hurts and it\u2019s ineffective. On other occasions, this may be an early indication of gum disease.<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re flossing for the first-time in a long time, you\u2019re gums may bleed. This bleeding should stop after a few days of regularly using floss. If you\u2019re gums continue to bleed, you should get checked for gum disease. <\/p>\n