Lots of folks think right away of brushing and flossing when talking about keeping teeth clean. But, some ask: which one matters most, or can one do the job of both? The truth is, brushing and flossing both matter big time for good dental health. As dentist in parramatta, dentists stress combining both, not choosing one. This piece breaks down what brushing and flossing do, their specific perks, and Parramatta dentist’s daily teeth-cleaning tips.
Brushing your teeth is super-important. It’s the main thing people do to keep their teeth clean all over the world. When you brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste that has fluoride in it, you clean away food bits, sticky plaque, and bacteria on your teeth and gums. Dentists in Parramatta, NSW, tell us to brush two times a day—once when we wake up and once before we go to sleep.
Doing this helps stop cavities, gum disease, and stinky breath. Still, brushing can’t clean everything. It does not get the tight spots between teeth or under the gums. That’s when flossing helps. With dental floss—a skinny, bendy thread—you can clean away food and plaque that brushing can’t get to. Parramatta dentists say flossing every day makes your tooth care routine complete.
The Key Benefits of Tooth Brushing
- Remove Plaque: Consistent brushing gets rid of plaque. That’s the sticky layer of bacteria that builds up on teeth after meals and drinks.
- Makes Breath Smell Good: When you brush your tongue and teeth, you get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath. So you end up with a fresh breath.
- Keeps Teeth Healthy: Toothpaste with fluoride hardens enamel. That makes your teeth better at resisting decay.
- Defends Gums: Brushing softly helps you avoid getting gingivitis. That’s the first stage of gum disease.
The Key Benefits of Flossing
- Unearths Hidden Bits: Flossing wiggles out food bits and plaque stuck in tooth gaps.
- Stops Gum Disease: Flossing often guards against gum disease by tidying the gumline.
- Lessens Tooth Holes: Flossing aids in stopping cavities in between teeth.
- Boosts Clean Feel: Flossing adds to your overall oral cleanliness where your toothbrush can’t reach. Read more here about Dealing with Dental Anxiety: Tips from Parramatta Experts.
Advice from dentist in parramatta
- Brushing: Do it Twice a Day Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth for at least two minutes. Cover all corners—front, back, and biting surfaces, and yes, brush your tongue too!
- Flossing: Make it a Daily Routine Just before bedtime, floss at least once. Gently slide the floss between your teeth and curve it around each tooth to clean below the gumline.
- Right Tools: They Matter Electric toothbrushes often outdo manual ones in plaque removal. For flossing, try dental picks, floss holders, or water flossers if normal floss is a bit difficult to use.
- Be Soft and Tender Don’t be too forceful when brushing or flossing. You might hurt your gums or enamel. Instead, use gentle circular movements for brushing, and a slow, measured movement for flossing.
- Regular Dentist Visits: They’re Essential Regular visits to a dentist in parramatta can catch and address any dental problems early. Plus, a pro cleaning removes tartar, something you can’t get rid of just by brushing and flossing.
Debunking Some Brushing and Flossing Myths
Myth 1: You Just Need to Brush A lot of folks think brushing twice a day makes flossing redundant. But Parramatta dentists couldn’t be clearer: only brushing won’t clean all corners of your mouth.
Myth 2: Flossing gives You Gaps Wrong—it’s not flossing that causes gaps; it’s gum disease and decay that could lead to tooth loss and wider spaces. Flossing helps prevent these.
Myth 3: Bleeding Gums Mean Stop Flossing Not exactly—if you bleed when you floss, it’s probably because of inflammation due to plaque buildup. Don’t stop flossing, just do it carefully. If bleeding continues, call your dentist in Parramatta.
Let's Wrap it Up
Brush your teeth. Floss them too. These aren’t rival tasks. They should share a spot in your day-to-day care for your teeth. Doing both will help stop tooth decay, gum problems, and more. Dentists in parramatta nsw folks to be steady and master the right way to brush and floss. Tie that with getting your teeth checked by pros, and your smile will shine for a long time. Think you want some pro advice about looking after your teeth? Or need a dental check?
Visit one of the dentists in parramatta They’ll tailor advice and treatment plans for you. You’ll look after your teeth pretty well the whole time you’re alive.