To floss or not to floss – that is the question. We’ve all been told by our dentists to brush and floss daily, but do we really place importance on flossing? Do we even understand what it does? It’s time to bust some common, unfounded myths about flossing and serve you some facts which will help you up your dental health game!
Myth 1: Using dental string or picks is the only way to floss
Fact: Apart from dental string or picks, you can also floss using oral irrigators or water based flossers. An oral irrigator such as Panasonic’s Portable Oral Irrigator EW1511 uses water pressure to clean teeth and gums – being a gentle yet effective alternative to dental floss or dental picks.
According to Dr Shehan Abeysinghe of Hastings Family Dental Care: “Oral Irrigators are a great solution for interdental cleaning, removal of debris and encouraging better dental hygiene for those who would otherwise rush or skip flossing and older people who have a problem with hand dexterity while cleaning.”
The Panasonic EW1511 Oral Irrigator with Ultrasonic Water Jet technology
Myth 2: I Only Need to Floss When I Have Food Caught in My Teeth
Fact: You need to floss every day to ensure healthy teeth and gums – not just when you have some food stuck in-between your teeth.
Dr Shehan Abeysinghe explains that, “flossing is often left out of the brushing routine, however, neglecting to floss can lead to major dental issues.”
The areas between your teeth are often the places that plaque is most likely to lurk because they are the toughest spots to reach with your toothbrush. And even the strongest mouthwash isn’t going to wash away stubborn biofilm – bacteria colonies that thrive in our mouths. Flossing forces out food debris caught between teeth and removes plaque and bacteria in periodontal pockets (deeper spaces around your teeth). Flossing should be at the centre of a good mouth-care regime.
Myth 3: I can’t floss because I have braces and/or dental restoration
Fact: Flossing with string or picks can be uncomfortable if you have braces or other dental restorations – not to mention time-consuming. However, it is still important to floss, especially to remove debris in difficult to brush places. Enter a water based oral irrigator. Using oral irrigators to clean between teeth is a much gentler option than string flossing, making it a smart choice for anyone with braces and dental restoration like crowns, bridges or implants.
Using an oral irrigator is a smart choice for anyone with braces, crowns or implants.
Myth 4: Flossing is painful
Fact: If you are flossing correctly and have a healthy mouth – it should not hurt at all. Flossing can be uncomfortable for people with gum disease at first, but with regular flossing, most find the process becomes less painful. Using a gentle yet effective water flosser with different pressure settings is recommended for those concerned about pain. This will be less irritating and give you more control. If you are experiencing pain when you floss, chat with your dentist about your flossing technique.
Please visit our website for more info on the Panasonic EW1511 Portable Oral Irrigator.