How to Have a Healthy Mouth Without Flossing Your Teeth
Unless you have been living under a rock, chances are that you have heard that brushing AND flossing are necessary for having a healthy mouth
And, although it is recommended by most dental professionals and the media, I'm happy to say that there are plenty of people that disagree about flossing's effectiveness, AND these people also have very healthy mouths without flossing!
Now I could give you all of the reasons that floss is less than effective, but if I spent time doing that I would lose you on what to do.
Soooooo, if you want to know why flossing is less than effective, click here to read, otherwise let's keep on going, shall we?!
In order to have a healthy mouth, you need to disrupt the bacteria in your mouth, everywhere
Tooth and gum brushing is important
Standard issue toothbrushes have a hard time getting under the gum and in between the teeth. Thanks to a new design of toothbrush bristles, it is much easier to get in-between the teeth, and under the gums.
These bristles are called ETB's (Extremely Tapered Bristles) and they are designed to clean all areas of the tooth and gum, without causing gum damage. An example of this brush is the Deep Clean by Butler GUM. (Click the link to see the brush.)You still need to make sure that you are using the brush correctly and that it is getting to all parts of the tooth and gums. As a hygienist, I find this to be the single biggest mistake that people make when brushing their teeth. Make sure you brush the gums, and not just the teeth.
Find a product that gets in between the teeth
Although floss isn't required, in order to clean the nooks and crannies you need to find a tool small enough to get to the area where the teeth contact. The Sulcabrush is a great alternative to flossing.The Sulcabrush has a long handle (which makes it easy to hold and use) with miniature bristles on each end. The bristles on each end are angled to help you get to the inside and outside of the teeth, and the tips are replaceable. This is a great tool that costs around $4.00! Much less than a cavity any day!
Irrigation makes life much, much easier
Bacteria are tiny, and they stick to each other like glue. Using an irrigator at home will help remove bacteria in places that no other tool can reach.Studies continue to show that it is the bacteria in the "pocket" of the tooth (the area between tooth and gums) that causes cavities, gum disease and a myriad of other health problems like heart disease, diabetes and dementia. Using an irrigator flushes out the bacteria so that they don't have the opportunity to stick to each other and cause the issues.A great example of an irrigator is a HydroFloss. We like the HydroFloss because it is pressure regulated so that it will not damage the gum tissue like many other irrigators on the market.
A good mouth rinse (or a series of mouth rinses) will help kill the bad bacteria living in the mouth.
There is a need for good bacteria in the mouth. When choosing a mouth rinse you want one that will kill the harmful bacteria, but will allow the good bacteria to thrive!
Make sure your mouth rinse is alcohol free, and find one that has the right combination of essential oils that help to create a balance of good and bad bacteria in your mouth.
I happen to love Tooth and Gums Tonic, but it is because as a dental hygienist, I have seen nothing but amazing results with this product for over 10 yrs.(Tooth and Gums Tonic was one of the main reasons that we started Natural Gumption! It is an awesome mouth rinse that was really difficult for people to find it unless their dentist sold it in their practice. Although it is not available in stores, it is worth the investment because this stuff is AMAZING!)
