Gum disease is a serious oral health issue afflicting millions of Americans every year. It is primarily caused when poor oral hygiene allows plaque and residual food particles to harden into bacteria-rich tartar. This results in the potentially dangerous inflammation and infection of your gum tissues.

Flossing your teeth after you brush your teeth is a critical aspect for preventing gum disease. This involves more than casually passing a strand of floss between your teeth.

To thoroughly clean between teeth and along the gumline, you need special focus and technique. Once you have inserted the floss, you should curve it into a semi-circle. Then, you should work the strand up and down along the tooth and into the gumline.

You should then advance the floss a fraction of an inch and repeat the same motion for the other tooth.

As you clean the space between each tooth, you should also make sure to floss behind each of your rear molars.

An effective flossing technique will go a long way toward preventing the formation of tartar. You can ensure that all traces of tartar will be removed by attending your regular dental checkup with your dentist,  Dr. Jeff Davidson.

If you are concerned that your flossing technique in Hamilton, Montana, could stand some improvement, you can always call Mountain Peak Dental at 406-363-4010 to seek further advice.