If your oral health isn't optimal, chances are you aren't flossing and might not want to start. While flossing is one of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy and to improve oral health, there are some other things you can do, too. Here are three ways to improve the condition of your gums without having to floss.
Water Flosser
Despite the name, water flossers bear almost no resemblance to traditional flossing. Water flossers are a lot like the spray your dentist uses to rinse your teeth after a thorough cleaning. Water flossers use a high-pressure spray of water to blast away particles of food, plaque, and bacteria. They can be used before brushing your teeth, and they have a long tool neck so you don't have to stick your fingers into your mouth in order to reach your farthest-back molars like you do with traditional flossing. They've also been shown to improve the health of gums, with decreased rates of bleeding and gum disease in patients who use them regularly.
Electric Toothbrush
Some people feel uncertain that electric toothbrushes are really all they're cracked up to be. While nothing can clean as effectively as a professional cleaning at the dentist's office, electric toothbrushes do still have some advantages that they can offer you.
Since electric toothbrushes spin rapidly, each tooth and gum that it comes into contact with will receive far more polishing than if you were using a manual toothbrush. This means that you will most likely remove more plaque and bacteria than if you were using a standard toothbrush. This can help to prevent or reverse gingivitis, the earliest form of gum disease.
Drink More Fluids
Some acidic drinks like juice aren't the best choice for your mouth. However, drinking plenty of liquids can help your oral health.
Water, tea, and artificially sweetened beverages can help to prevent plaque from developing. In addition to washing away some food particles, regularly drinking water or other sugar-free beverages will help to flush away the bacteria responsible for creating plaque. If the bacteria never gets to make the plaque, you're far less likely to develop or experience a worsening of gum disease.
While you should still consider getting into the habit of flossing, picking up these other habits can help to boost your oral health. If you don't intend to floss, you should at the very least consider following these habits to prevent the condition of your gums from deteriorating. Talk to a dentist like those at HP Family Dental to learn more.
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