Does flossing make teeth thinner?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Khanh Nam - Doctor of Dental - Jaw - Facial - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Flossing is known as a safe and effective oral cleaning method, but it is not commonly used in Vietnam. Therefore, issues related to flossing such as "does flossing make teeth thin" or "when to floss"... are all very new. This article will answer the above questions in detail for readers.

1. Flossing and recommendations from a dentist

Food plaque on teeth when persisted for a long time can lead to periodontal disease and the serious consequence of this problem is tooth loss, if left untreated. Therefore, it is extremely necessary for everyone to protect and clean their teeth from the residence of these plaques.
The American Dental Association has long stated that flossing is essential to taking care of your teeth and gums. Dentists also believe that repelling the growth of bacteria and plaque through brushing and flossing will ensure your teeth are always clean, thereby minimizing the risk of gingivitis - something conditions that can lead to periodontal disease.

2. Why use dental floss instead of toothpicks?

Vietnamese people are often more familiar with toothpicks than floss when they want to remove food stuck in between their teeth. However, the use of toothpicks, in the opinion of dental experts, is a bad habit for oral health. Toothpicks have the potential to cause damage to teeth and soft tissues. Moreover, the use of toothpicks also causes the interdental spaces to become thinner, which looks unsightly.
At this point, flossing is the most optimal solution. This dental hygienist is recommended by every dentist every day. Because of its soft, thin and chewy structure, floss easily penetrates into many nooks and crannies of the teeth, even the narrowest of teeth, helping to thoroughly clean daily plaque and food debris.

3. Does flossing make teeth thinner?

A lot of people, for cosmetic reasons, question whether flossing will make teeth thinner. The answer from dental professionals is no, if you use dental floss correctly. This is also an outstanding advantage that makes dentists recommend using dental floss instead of daily toothpicks.
However, in some cases, if you do not choose the right type of quality dental floss with a large size, the use of these floss will cause teeth to become sparse after a while. So, if flossing properly; Choosing quality silk thread with thin, soft, smooth but high durability will not thin teeth but still achieve absolute cleaning effect.

4. How often should you floss?

In order to determine if flossing can make teeth thinner, the factor of frequency of flossing is also taken into account. Flossing too much can also cause tooth decay because you're constantly flossing between your teeth. So how often is it reasonable to use dental floss?
So far, there is no exact conclusion about the number of times to use dental floss per day. However, the formation of plaque in the mouth takes place continuously. Along with that, bacteria will take about 4-12 hours to grow on plaque. So flossing more than once per day won't be as beneficial. As recommended, this will cause serious damage to gum tissue if you floss the wrong way, exposing the roots more. Not only that, this also creates an opening for bacteria to enter and cause tooth decay.
In short, you can floss once a day and up to 3 times a day if you feel food stuck between your teeth after eating.

5. Some common mistakes when flossing cause tooth loss

5.1. Not using the right type of floss Depending on the actual spacing between your teeth, you can choose from different types of floss currently on the market. Where:
For tight spaces, you should choose Superfloss or non-wax floss. For wider and flatter gaps, you can use Dental Tape with good coverage, effective cleaning. For people who make bridges / wear braces, it is recommended to choose thin, light, smooth and soft threads to limit injuries during use. Choosing the wrong size floss can cause teeth to become wider when you try to floss large teeth between small teeth, and increase the chance that you have to use force, causing damage to the gums.
5.2. Flossing roughly When flossing with great force, you can injure your gums or even cause gum gaps. At the same time, strong friction between teeth can wear down tooth enamel, making teeth weaker and more spaced.
Therefore, when flossing between teeth to remove plaque, you need to work gently, slowly and thoroughly.
In general, the question of whether or not flossing will thin your teeth depends on many factors. If you choose the right type of floss with the right size, use it correctly, gently and with the right frequency, thinning will definitely not happen.

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Reference source: utknoxvilledentists.com