The Benefits of Flossing at Night
When it comes to your oral health routine, you may wonder when is the ideal time to floss - morning or evening? There are good arguments for flossing during both time periods. However, doing it at night before bed tends to be the recommended approach by most dental professionals. Here's why nighttime flossing can be beneficial:
Removes Debris from Daytime Eating
Flossing at night helps remove any food particles, plaque or bacteria accumulated during meals and snacks throughout the day. Your teeth have likely collected some debris after a full day of eating. Flossing helps dislodge and clean it all out.
Prevents Bacteria Growth Overnight
While you sleep, oral bacteria has ample time to multiply and spread. By flossing right before bed, you remove a good chunk of bacteria so it has less chance to grow and cause potential problems overnight while your saliva flow is low.
Plaque Solidifies Overnight
The plaque that builds up on your teeth during the day starts to solidify and harden at night. If you floss before the plaque fully solidifies, it scrapes away more easily. The nighttime flossing disrupts the plaque before it firmly adheres.
Prepares for Morning Brushing
Flossing at night loosens and removes debris so your morning tooth brushing session can be more effective. The brushing has less plaque and bacteria to combat if you floss away a good portion of it the evening prior.
The Perks of Flossing in the Morning
Though nighttime is preferential, flossing in the morning does have some benefits too. Here are a few reasons why a quick floss in the AM can be advantageous:
Freshens Breath in the AM
Gently scraping away plaque and bacteria with a morning floss helps leave your mouth and breath feeling fresh first thing. It whisks away "morning mouth" funk.
Brightens Up Smile
In addition to fresher breath, flossing in the morning clears away grime to help your smile look its whitest first thing in the day. It wipes away dingy plaque buildup.
Jumpstarts Oral Health Routine
Starting your day with floss sets you up for success in your overall oral care. The morning floss reminds you to follow through with brushing and forms a beneficial habit.
Disrupts Just-Formed Plaque
Morning flossing tackles the soft plaque before it turns hard. Bacteria starts to rebuild plaque overnight, so flossing first thing dislodges it while still fairly new and fragile.
Key Tips for Effective Flossing
To gain the most oral health benefits from flossing, proper technique is critical. Follow these key tips for effective flossing in the morning or evening:
Use Enough Length
Wind about 18 inches of floss around each middle finger with a few inches of floss taut between hands. This provides enough length to floss all your teeth.
Be Gentle Yet Effective
Guide the floss firmly but gently between each tooth, scraping along the side of each tooth and just slightly under the gumline. Never snap or forcefully jam the floss.
Floss Back and Forth
Gently guide the floss back and forth several times between contacts of adjacent teeth to dislodge debris. Don't just push it through once then move on.
Curve Around Each Tooth
Create a C-shape against each tooth as you floss up and down to clean all sides of every tooth, not just the straight space between them. Curve into those inner crevices.
Floss the Back Teeth
Don't neglect those harder to reach back molars. Use fingers or a floss threader if needed, but be sure to floss all your back teeth thoroughly.
Choosing the Best Floss for You
With so many floss options on the market, selecting the right type can seem confusing. Keep these tips in mind when picking dental floss to suit your needs:
Waxed vs Unwaxed
Waxed floss glides smoothly between tight contacts but unwaxed flosses better at grabbing debris. Try both to see which you prefer.
Flavored Floss
If you dislike the taste of plain floss, choose a minty flavored variety for a fresher mouthfeel.
Floss Picks
These offer easy maneuverability and portability but often fail to create adequate tension for cleaning. Reserve as a backup option.
Floss Threaders
If you have permanent dental work like bridges or implants, threaders help guide floss through narrow spaces not reachable with regular floss.
Fiber Choice
Classic nylon floss slides smoothly but doesn't grip debris very well. ForRemoving food particles, multi-fiber blends work better.
Special Flossing Considerations
Certain dental factors impact how and when you should floss. People with braces, dental implants, bleeding gums and other conditions have unique considerations.
Braces
Use a floss threader to get the floss under the wire and be gentle to avoid damaging braces. Floss carefully around braces at night.
Gum Disease
If you have inflamed or bleeding gums, avoid aggressive flossing and be very gentle. Ask your dentist when it's safe to floss.
Implants and Bridges
Use a threader or special under-appliance cleaner to floss implants and bridges thoroughly. Precision is key around dental work.
Permanent Retainers
Use a floss threader in a see-saw motion to get through the small space under permanent retainers. Work slowly and gently.
Supplementing Flossing
While a thorough flossing routine is imperative for oral health, you can incorporate other beneficial habits around flossing to boost your daily clean.
Tongue Scraping
Use a tongue scraper after flossing to remove bacteria accumulation from the tongue for super fresh breath.
Mouthwash
A mouthwash rinse after flossing helps kill germs, especially at night to prevent bacterial growth as you sleep.
Brushing
Always brush thoroughly after flossing to remove dislodged particles for the fullest clean.
Water Flushing
Swish water around after flossing to rinse freely and prevent reseeding of particles.
Regular Dental Cleanings
Visit your dentist every 6 months for a deep professional cleaning for optimal oral hygiene on top of daily flossing.
FAQs
Why is nighttime flossing recommended?
Flossing at night removes debris from daytime eating, prevents bacteria growth overnight, and disrupts plaque before it hardens.
What are the benefits of flossing in the morning?
Morning flossing can freshen breath, brighten your smile, and establish a habit for your oral care routine.
What proper flossing technique should you use?
Wind 18 inches of floss around fingers, floss gently between teeth and just under the gumline, use a back and forth motion, and curve around each tooth.
How do you floss with braces or dental appliances?
Use floss threaders to guide floss under wires or bridges. Work slowly and gently around dental appliances.
What can supplement a flossing routine?
Tongue scraping, antiseptic mouthwash, brushing, water flossing, and regular dental cleanings help boost oral hygiene.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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