Is Flossing Twice a Day Too Much?

Everyone knows that flossing is an essential part of maintaining optimum oral health. But actually flossing is another matter. It seems that everyone knows they should do it, but we seem to chronically forget to actually floss.

Most doctors and dental professionals agree on the fact that everyone should floss at least once a day, but there doesn’t seem to be an agreement among dentists if flossing two or three times per day makes a difference as opposed to just once. The consensus seems to be that flossing twice a day is just fine, as long as you’re flossing properly.

Why Floss?

When we talk about flossing, what we’re really talking about is the process of cleaning your teeth or interdental cleaning. Whether you use a piece of floss or an alternative method that we’ll discuss below, the main point is that you need to be thoroughly cleaning the sides of your teeth and the area between them every single day.

Cleaning your teeth is important for many reasons, but serves two main functions: it dislodges food debris trapped in between those tiny crevices in your mouth, and it prevents the buildup of plaque and tartar. Removing plaque and preventing tartar is crucial to the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.

If you’re not maintaining proper flossing practices, this could lead to some nasty conditions way worse than the discomfort of flossing:

• Tartar
• Gum Disease
• Gingivitis
• Other chronic diseases

How to Floss

The best way to floss is to do it daily! It’s important to build that healthy habit so that your gums, teeth, and mouth stay healthy. If you’re starting (or re-starting) a flossing habit, don’t be discouraged if at first your teeth and gums are sensitive and bleed a little bit. Just floss gently at first as you build your flossing habit. Some tips on how to best floss effectively:

• Use a long piece of floss, about 18 inches, so there’s enough floss to wrap around your fingers and get in between all of your teeth.
• Tie the floss around your middle finger on both hands and pinch it with your thumbs.
• Keep your hands close together to make going in between each tooth easy and gentle.
• Loop the piece of floss around your tooth and slide the floss up and down both sides of your tooth.
• Use a mouthwash after flossing to rinse your mouth and remove as much bacteria as possible.

In order to make flossing a habit, there are a few things you could do to really help cement the process into your daily routine:

• Floss at the same time every day. Dedicating a few minutes at a time in your day that works for you will help you keep the habit.
• Set a daily reminder on your phone, or make it a goal to check off your daily flossing practice.
• Encourage yourself – the longer something is a habit the easier it is to maintain.

Flossing Alternatives

Your typical stringy floss isn’t the only way to make sure your teeth get cleaned. For some, there might be a physical barrier to using traditional floss. For others, it’s just a dislike of the act of flossing your teeth. Thankfully, if your aversion to the habit of cleaning your teeth is about flossing, there are many modern alternatives to help you keep your teeth clean.

Methods to flossing that help you form healthy, oral hygiene habits include the following:

• Traditional floss- this waxed or unwaxed string typically comes in a large spool and you use as much or as little as you want each time. Do not reuse floss.
• Dental picks- these are pre-strung floss attached to a handle so you don’t have to string floss around your fingers. They are disposable and are not meant to be reused.
• Interdental brush- these brushes are similar to a toothbrush or a make-up eyebrow brush. They’re helpful when you have braces or other necessary orthodontic devices.
• Water picks and other devices- water picks are at-home versions of a similar tool you’ve experienced at the dentist. Water picks are chargeable or battery-operated devices that shoot tiny jets of water into your mouth, cleaning your teeth without any floss or brush. It’s convenient, accessible, and comfortable.