Since flossing specifically targets the spaces between the teeth and gums, it helps to floss after eating foods that are soft, sweet, and sticky. Cakes, cookies, chocolate, bread, and some candies sink into your teeth when you bite them so that they will stick in those spaces between your teeth and gums as well.
To be safe, Mouth Healthy by the American Dental Association suggests that if you feel like you need to brush your teeth after eating or drinking something, wait at least 60 minutes. This gives your saliva a chance to naturally wash away food particles, so your mouth returns to its proper pH level.
“Ideally, you would brush and floss after each meal, but that may not be very realistic for people with busy jobs or hectic schedules,” he says. “So we recommend at least brushing and flossing twice a day, and ideally one of those times will be before bed.”
While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.
Plaque-creating bacteria take 4-12 hours to develop. So, flossing more than once a day really has no benefits unless you have something stuck in your teeth. Dentists warn that flossing more than once a day can cause serious damage to your gum tissue—if you are flossing the wrong way.
There are some advantages of flossing at night rather than the morning. Flossing at night will remove any plaque between your teeth that has been built up over the course of the day. This can make your teeth feel cleaner and fresher when you wake up in the morning than they would with just brushing alone.
Ideally, patients will floss at least once a day. The best time to floss is at night before bed and before you've brushed your teeth. It's important to floss before brushing, as brushing will help displace any of the substances you dislodge from between your teeth from your mouth.
Although you may choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, many prefer to floss at night to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of the teeth overnight. This could prevent the build-up of plaque too, which is a cause of tooth decay.
If you skip flossing, the plaque and tartar will build up and may potentially lead to periodontal/gum disease.
Forcing Floss Between Teeth
If you have two teeth that sit tightly together in your mouth, you should avoid forcing a piece of floss between the small space. If you force or snap the floss into the congested area, the floss can cut your gums, resulting in bleeding and sore gums.
There are two sides to each space between your teeth and you must floss each side separately so as not to injure the triangle of gum tissue between your teeth. Run the floss up and down the surface of the tooth, making sure you are going down to the gum line and then up to the highest contact point between the teeth.
Brushing your teeth right away when you wake up helps to rid your teeth of this harmful plaque and bacteria. Brushing also coats your teeth with a protective barrier against the acids in your food.
Here's advice from our practice for facing late-night eating temptation: If you have a snack, rinse or brush your teeth afterward. Try not to eat or drink anything but water during the hour prior to going to bed. When snacking fever strikes, opt for healthier foods.
In general, wait for twenty to thirty minutes before eating anything after you have finished brushing your teeth. That is because the enamel gets weak when brushing, and chewing anything hard can harm the teeth and enamel; hence it's good to wait.
According to the American Dental Association, flossing is just as important as brushing in preventing gum disease and maintaining oral health. The optimal way to clean your teeth is by brushing and flossing twice a day – in the morning and also at bedtime.
Yes, the Dentist Knows
Obviously, your dentist will be able to tell if your habit of not flossing has led to cavities between your teeth. However, even if the problem hasn't reached that point yet, your dentist and dental hygienist will still be able to tell in a second whether you've been flossing.
Why are so many people so against flossing? We dug up some research and found some of the main reasons people ditch the floss. “I Just Can't Seem To Do It.” Sometimes individuals with dexterity problems, especially those who have suffered a stroke, injury, or have arthritis, can have difficulty maneuvering the floss.
After two weeks of not flossing, plaque and tartar will start to accumulate between your teeth. Brushing cleans the surface but cannot go in between teeth – that's where flossing proves to be essential. Plaque and tartar create a sticky, bacteria-laden, acidic film.
Water pick users say their mouths feel fresher after use, and that's because water flossers are more effective than dental floss or floss picks at plaque removal. Studies show that water flossers remove 29% more plaque than floss. Water flossers are also more gentle for people with gum sensitivity.
Once plaque gets onto your teeth, you have a limited amount of time to remove it before it hardens. Most plaque hardens within 48 hours of formation, and within several days it will become so hard that it is almost impossible to remove.
The short answer is: yes, you should floss every day. The American Dental Association recommends flossing your teeth every day to improve oral health and prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and more. We hear this recommendation often from dental product ads on TV and in magazines.
Flossing too much damages your gums. They can get irritated and swollen, and even bleed. You might think this is a sign you aren't flossing enough, and go at it even more aggressively. If you're this type of flosser, you're probably sawing away at your gums and teeth.
Takeaways for Flossing Too Hard
Forcing the floss against the gums or the teeth and using too much pressure can hurt the gums and ever wear away the enamel over time. Of course, it should be done with some pressure, but not excessive pressure and it can be tricky to get it right the first few times you begin.
2 minutes—2 times a day
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the 2/2 rule: brush for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You could brush more often if you like, but the minimum for healthy teeth and gums is the 2/2 rule.