Flossing
Flossing is a powerful weapon in combatting tooth decay. Biting surface decay can be prevented by dental sealants. And interproximal decay, that occurs between the teeth, is prevented by flossing. In fact, even after cavities have started, if you begin to floss faithfully every day, they can be arrested and will remineralize.
The Flossing Technique
Start by taking a strand of dental floss between your thumb and first finger of both hands, with about 1 1/2 inches between hands. Press this section of floss between each tooth contact, drawing it toward the tooth surface being worked on with an up and down motion. You need to get under the gum, but be careful not to press too hard on the attachment between the tooth and the gum. You are literally trying to scrub the sides of each tooth, until they squeak, at which point you will know you have removed all of the bacterial plaque. Repeat this for every tooth surface. Unlike brushing that should be done after each meal, flossing only needs to be done once a day.
See the diagram on the right for an illustration of this technique. Notice how the floss is wrapped around the tooth and is pushed gently under the gum to clean as much of the tooth as possible.
Some newer developments with floss have been the introduction of other agents into the floss such as surfactants to prevent plaque from re-sticking, as well as embedding fluoride in the floss as a vehicle to get the fluoride to these critical interproximal areas.
A Second Benefit of Flossing
Flossing has a double benefit. If you floss thoroughly once a day, you will also eliminate the cause of most periodontal disease. Perio means “around” and odont means “tooth”, so periodontal is a disease and loss of the structures that surround the teeth; namely the gums and bone. You could say that this disease would be better called “interdontal disease” (between the teeth), as this is precisely where the gums and bone are destroyed first, and is why flossing is the best way to eliminate the bacteria in this area and the best way to prevent the disease.
By flossing once a day, you are getting the outstanding double benefit of preventing not only the between-the-teeth cavities, but also the great cause of most adult tooth loss—periodontal disease.