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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How often should I floss?

    Related Topic
    Oral Health
    Whenever I go to the dentist for a routine checkup, my gums bleed. The hygienist says it is caused by insufficient flossing. How often should I floss?
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  • 4

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    Dr Arnold Baume

    Dentist

    Floss your teeth twice a day if possible . At least once a day .
    There is an easy to learn technique to this . You must take the floss as low as it can go in a u shape action . If we can teach you to floss PROPERLY INCLUDING YOUR MOLARS ….IT WILL
     1-make any cheap mouth wash twice as effective .
     2-give you the best  chance to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.
     3 STOP BAD BREATH . Take responsibility and clean between your teeth . Your brush or toothpick or interdent or mini needle brush cannot do this . Bad breath comes from those areas between your teeth that brushes electric or not cannot clean . Just smell your floss after you have used it .
    Apart from toothbrushing also brush your tongue (an area that also causes bad breath .

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  • Dr Kevin Jaffar

    Dentist

    Jaffar Dental - Trusted and Established since 1997. We are a family owned General Dental Practice offering a friendly and caring environment in Waterford QLD. … View Profile

    Once per day

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    Dr Keith Hengpoonthana

    Dentist

    Principal dentist of Newington Dental Care. Previous teaching staff for the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney. Special interest in dental anxiety management and orthodontics. … View Profile

    Atleast once per day… perhaps more often if you find food gets caught between your teeth all the time (if so you should discuss with your dentist possible causes of this food trap).
    How you floss (technique) is as equally important as how often you floss, ask your hygientist how best to floss your teeth. Experiment with different brands and types of floss, you may find one easier to use than another.

    Take care :)

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  • 2

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    Dr Michael Leong

    Dentist

    Welcome to Just Dental Care. “We do CARE”. We provide quality care and affordable dentistry to you and your family. We provide a comprehensive range … View Profile

    At Just Dental Care we advise flossing twice a day or more often if you get food stuck between your teeth.
    Flossing is the physical removal of food and bacteria from between your teeth. It is an important way to reduce decay developing.


    If you are unsure on how to floss visit our website www.justdentalcare.com.au under videos.


    If you would like to know more contact us 07 38633604 or visit www.justdentalcare.com.au   

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  • 3

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    Dr Jeremy Rourke

    Dentist

    You should floss every day - You don't have to floss all of your teeth every day - Just the ones you want to keep

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  • 2

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    Dr Roland Chong

    Dentist

    Flossing should be done at least once a day. If food traps between your teeth then you should try to dislodge this with the floss as soon as possible.

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    Dr Brendan Moroney

    Dentist

    We are committed to providing comprehensive, high quality dental care and service, that which we would expect for ourselves and our families. Our treatment philosophy … View Profile

    In a perfect world we should floss daily, but given the constraints of the modern lifestyle (work, family, children…fatigue) this is not always feasible. I take a practical approach and advise flossing at least once a week: we should all be able to manage a few minutes a week for flossing. It is better to floss less frequently (weeky) all year round ,than it is to floss daily for a few weeks then nothing else until you next visit your dentist!   If you floss regularly, all year round, then you will minimise the risk of gum disease, bad breath and tooth decay.  There is a dental saying which always gets a laugh and that is…“Floss the teeth you want to keep”!!

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    Dr Richard Mumford

    Dentist

    Friendly, personal & experienced Chatswood Dentist for over 30 years. A professional practice where the patient comes first and there is no pushy salesmanship. View Profile

    Thoroughness is more important than frequency.If you do it well nightly is OK.It is really important to go to bed at night with clean teeth because they are more vulnerable when asleep because the protective saliva dries up.Unless you are cleaning between your teeth you are missing about 30% of the bacterial build up.You don't have to use floss,but if you don't you need to use some other interdental cleaning such as interdental toothbrushes or a gadget such as a Phillips Air Floss

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