If you’ve been to Dr. Peterson, you likely already know the proper ways to take care of your oral health. Brush twice a day, floss at least once a day, use mouthwash, and if you want to take i that extra mile, scrape your tongue. But the fact is, many people skip an important step: flossing. But why is flossing so important, and when should you floss? Flossing is the act of using dental floss between each tooth to help remove plaque and food debris that can get trapped between the teeth. In fact, did you know that brushing alone only cleans about 70 percent of the surface of the teeth? That other 30 percent must be cleaned by flossing. Flossing can be diffiult, but is usually not impossible. For those who struggle to floss, there are devices available to help you reach those hard-to-reach spaces. Some people opt to use a water flosser, but while water flossers are great for getting food out of hard-to-reach places such as braces or bridges, they don’t remove plaque, so flossing with traditional dental floss is still recommended. Another common question about flossing is when you should floss. While you should floss after every meal, most dentists suggest flossing at least once per day. The time of day is up to you, however, we recommend if you’re only going to floss once a day that, you do it at bedtime, so you can get all the plaque and food bits out from between your teeth and so that you aren’t going hours during your sleep with debris in your mouth. Furthermore, many wonder when in your oral health routine does flossing come into play? Should you floss before you brush or after? That’s a great question. In fact, a recent study set out to answer just that and found that while there is no definitive answer to which is better, flossing before brushing was a bit more beneficial. Remember, brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and even tongue scraping are all great ways to maintain your oral health. However, visiting Dr. Peterson every 6-12 months is also imperative to keep your bright smile. A visit to Dr. Peterson not only leaves your teeth sparkling, it also can rule out any illness like cavities and gingivitis. Should any conditions present themselves during your exam, Dr. Peterson can treat them and get you back on the road to wellness. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Peterson, please contact the office today.