Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Brushing the tooth is part and parcel of our every day routine. It isn’t solely important to brush, but in addition to brush methodically and observe the etiquettes of brushing the tooth and rinsing of mouth in order to keep up optimum oral, dental and gum well being. It’s also important to stop gum and tooth problems in the long term. So, it must be a holistic and complete apply fairly than a formality executed unconsciously or in a semi-awaken state.
Within the timeline of evolution, the strategies and supplies have modified, however the apply of brushing is handed on.
Ayurveda has not solely defined ‘danta dhavana’ vis-à-vis ‘brushing of tooth’ however has additionally personalized the toothbrushes in response to one’s prakriti and wish. The reason has a contact of each ‘preventive’ and ‘healing’ perspective and is a science by itself.
Have you ever brushed or cleansed in between your tooth?
All of us brush. We may suppose that we now have brushed correctly. However we’re not certain how far and the way higher we now have reached these small areas between the tooth and removed the meals particles or grime sitting therein. Cleansing in between the tooth may be very a lot important for optimum and complete oral well being.
Flossing is a technique of cleansing ‘in between the tooth’ utilizing instruments referred to as ‘dental floss’.
What’s dental floss?
Dental floss is a wire of skinny filaments. It’s utilized in ‘interdental cleansing’ i.e. to scrub in between the tooth. It removes meals and dental plaque current in between the tooth. Floss reaches all these locations the place a toothbrush can’t attain. It’s a vital a part of oral cleaning and helps in sustaining oral well being.
Its use is alleged to stop gingivitis and plaque buildup in and in between the tooth. In keeping with the American Dental Affiliation, flossing removes about 80% plaques and in addition advantages these with orthodontic gadgets. Nonetheless, there’s restricted scientific proof to indicate the medical advantages of flossing as an adjunct to common tooth brushing.
What number of occasions ought to one floss?
It’s endorsed to be executed at the least as soon as every day. It may be executed both earlier than or after brushing. Flossing will assist the toothpaste to succeed in in between the tooth.
What does flossing do?
Flossing cleans the areas in between the tooth, removes the meals particles caught therein. This in flip reduces the variety of micro organism and plaque within the mouth. If the meals particles are usually not dislodged by common flossing, it could appeal to micro organism and therefore an infection. Plaques then again, if not eliminated on occasion, contribute to cavities and gum illnesses.
Improper flossing could cause potential injury to the tooth and gums. So, understanding the right approach of flossing is necessary.
Steps for correct flossing
Dental floss shall be damaged off to about 18-24 inches size.
Wind the floss correctly round each your center fingers. Many of the floss ought to be wound leaving solely 1-2 inches of floss for cleansing the areas between the tooth.
Now, place the floss in between two tooth by holding it taut together with your index fingers and thumbs.
Gently glide the floss up and down in between the tooth, rubbing it in opposition to each side of every tooth.
See that the floss doesn’t contact the gums whereas flossing. This would possibly trigger scratches or bruising of gums.
Instantly when the floss reaches the gums, curve it on the base of the tooth in order to type a ‘C’ form. With this, you’ll take the floss into the area between your gums and tooth.
The identical steps shall be repeated as you progress from tooth to tooth. Make sure that to make use of a brand new, clear part of floss with every tooth.
How a lot time is required to floss the tooth?
One ought to take about 10-Quarter-hour roughly to floss the tooth.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing with braces on shall take extra time than flossing with out them.
Waxed floss shall be chosen for this technique of flossing. There might be much less probabilities that these flosses get torn and caught within the braces.
Waterpik or a floss threader are alternate options for waxed floss in these having braces.
These sporting braces have to do the under stated (as really useful by American Affiliation of Orthodontists and Mayo Clinic) –
– Avoid sugar wealthy and starchy meals and drinks since these meals are answerable for formation of plaques
– Brush tooth after each meal
– Rinse the mouth completely
– Use fluoride rinse
– Floss commonly
Perfect instruments for flossing with braces are floss threader, waxed floss, water flosser, these sporting braces and interdental flossing brushes.
Kinds of Dental Floss
There are lots of sorts of dental floss. The kind of floss one makes use of will depend on one’s preferences, area in between the tooth and if one is utilizing braces or bridges. Some floss can be utilized simply in wider areas between the tooth. The opposite varieties of floss are simpler for use when there are tighter areas in between the tooth.
Under talked about are the various kinds of dental floss –
1. Dental tape – is broader, could be useful in these having braces, gaps or massive areas in between the tooth
2. Commonplace floss – is a skinny, nylon strand, utilized in tooth that are crowded or nearer collectively
3. Tremendous flosses – is a floss threader which may work with braces, bridges and gaps.
– Electrical flosser or water flosser – this makes use of water and stress to take away plaque and meals from in between the tooth. Water flossers will also be utilized in these having braces.
– Disposable floss picks – can be utilized to floss the tooth behind the mouth that are tough to succeed in
What can occur if one doesn’t floss?
– Plaques together with micro organism in it are usually not eliminated. On this case, these micro organism begin feeding on the sugar and particles of meals which stay in between the tooth after consuming.
– These micro organism which feed on the meals, launch an acid.
– This acid eats away the enamel and causes cavities.
– The unremoved plaque can get hardened into calculus / tartar. This tartar collects on the gumline, ultimately giving rise to gingivitis and gum illness.
When ought to one floss?
One can floss at no matter time is snug for them to take action. Some individuals could choose flossing within the morning and others do it at bedtime. In each circumstances it’s to keep up oral hygiene.
Brush first or floss first?
It may be executed both approach and it’s good so long as one makes certain to scrub all tooth completely and apply oral hygiene in a great way, every day. However in response to a examine in 2018, it’s higher to floss the tooth first after which brush the tooth than doing the opposite approach round i.e. brushing first after which flossing the tooth.
It is because floss lifts the meals particles and plaques caught in between the tooth whereas brushing which is finished after flossing would take away these particles from the mouth. The meals particles and plaque stay within the mouth if one brushes first and floss afterwards. Then again, brushing a second would improve fluoride focus in between the tooth. This would cut back the danger of tooth decay by strengthening the enamel.
In keeping with the American Dental Affiliation, one ought to floss at the least as soon as in a day and brush at the least twice a day.
Limitation for flossing
Flossing ought to be executed inside limitations. One shouldn’t floss an excessive amount of. Making use of an excessive amount of stress whereas flossing or flossing vigorously can injury the gums and tooth. Flossing must be executed greater than as soon as in a day, particularly after meals.
Instruments wanted for interdental cleansing (alternate options to flossing)
– Waxed / unwaxed dental floss
– Pre-threaded flossers
– Water flossers
– Picket or plastic picks
– Powdered air flossers
– Dental tape
– Tiny flossing brushes or proxy brushes
Any of those could also be used however not with out the opinion of the dentist. It may be personalized as per your like and which you should use commonly.
Research – Flossing is related to improved oral well being in older adults
Learn – Efficacy of Flossing and Mouth-rinsing Regimens on Plaque and Gingivitis: A randomized medical trial
Learn – New examine suggests the perfect sequence for eradicating plaque – Flossing earlier than brushing could scale back dental plaque and assist maximize the advantages of cavity combating fluoride
Flossing Ayurveda Understanding
There are lots of issues which give attention to the ‘oral well being and hygiene’ which have been defined within the context of ‘dinacharya – every day routine’ however there isn’t any routine which immediately factors out in direction of the reason of flossing in Ayurveda.
However after we deeply see in between the traces, the under talked about actions of every day routine explains flossing –
– Danta Dhawana – brushing of tooth – Ayurveda has really useful accumulating the twigs of the crops / bushes like Nimba – Azadirachta indica (Neem) and so forth. and chewing them. We have to bear in mind that there have been no brushes within the olden days. Once you chew a twig, the fibres get separated and assume the type of a brush, forming the bristles. These fibres serve the aim of the floss since they enter in between the tooth and cleanse therein. So, Danta Dhawana is ‘two in a single’ – brushing together with flossing strategies.
– Kavala – mouthwash – serves the aim of waterpik or water flossers
Together with achamana – water sipping, jihwa hirlekhana – tongue cleansing / scraping and gandusha – mouth / throat gargle and pratisarana – software of medicinal pastes within the oral cavity – danta dhawana and kavala contribute in direction of complete oral well being care protocol as an element and parcel of every day routine.
