Month: November 2013

At Huisman Family Dental in Holland, we hear this question often, “Is flossing really that important?” The short answer is, “Yes, flossing is that important.” And here’s why.

Flossing is a crucial part of having a healthy mouth and healthy gums. In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends daily flossing in order to achieve optimal oral health. By properly flossing, you’re able to remove food particles, plaque and bacteria that forms between teeth, something that brushing alone can’t do.

While brushing is a very important to the well being of your mouth, to get the healthiest mouth possible, it should be paired with flossing. A proper brushing-flossing combination reduces your risk of cavities and gum disease, and makes your Holland dentist very happy!

Flossing Tips for Healthy Gums

• Floss before brushing your teeth

• Glide the floss in between each tooth using a sawing motion

• Angle the floss in a “c” shape around the tooth and slightly below the gumline

• Repeat on the opposite tooth

• Unravel the floss from your fingers, supplying fresh floss for each set of teeth

• Finish up with a proper brushing

Even if you brush twice a day and floss daily, it’s still important to maintain regular visits to your dental office in Holland. Due for a checkup or professional cleaning? Don’t worry. Call Huisman Family Dental today to schedule your appointment today.

Brushing your teeth is something we all learn to do at an early age, and is even considered fun in the beginning. However, over the years, we become so used to brushing our teeth that we have a tendency to not really pay attention to how well we’re doing it. This could lead to a less than optimal clean and put you at risk for dental problems. At Huisman Family Dental in Holland,we want everyone to know that it’s not only important to brush your teeth, but to also make sure that you’re doing it properly.

Although we’re always happy to hear that our patients are brushing their teeth twice a day, we also want them to know that an incorrect technique can leave teeth exposed to harmful plaque and tartar. Proper brushing helps you successfully remove these oral health dangers along with other harmful bacteria, and helps protect against cavities, bad breath and gum disease.

We recommend brushing at least twice day, in the morning and before bed, and also following our proper brushing techniques, which include:

• Aiming your bristles at a 45-degree angle to reach under the gum line

• Using soft, circular strokes instead of horizontal ones to avoid abrasions

• Cleaning your entire mouth including front, back and chewing surface of each tooth and your tongue

• Making sure that each brushing session lasts for at least two minutes

No matter how perfect your technique may be, it’s still very important that you visit your Holland dentist for routine checkups and professional cleanings. If you’re due for a checkup or cleaning, give Huisman Family Dentistry a call to schedule your appointment today.