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98 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE F or a dentist the statistics are frustrating – only 2 percent of the population flosses on a daily basis. For those who do floss – most are doing it wrong, and rather than help- ing they are causing damage. Holding the floss the wrong way or pressing on the gums with the floss may tear the delicate ligament around the tooth that seals out the bacteria from damaging the bone. If you are going to floss make sure you follow three rules: 1) Use your middle fingers as the “spool” to wrap the floss around. This will give you the most control. 2) Use your thumb and pointer to work the floss between the teeth (see photos). This prevents the floss from snapping into the gums – which would cause a lot of damage. 3) Don’t press on the gums – lean on the tooth. The bacteria stick to the teeth, not the gums. When I ask, “How do you clean between your teeth?” most people will answer, “I brush.” I then explain that brushing is critical to clean at the gumline but it won’t remove the bac- teria that hide between your teeth. For that you need either dental floss, WaterPik, Rotopoints, Proxbrush, Sulcabrush, or any other tool designed to get the bacteria that your brush can’t reach. Those people who tell me they do floss will readily admit, “Well not every day… I floss maybe once or twice a week.” It’s important to remember that bacteria accumulate every day. If you clean between your teeth only once or twice a week, the bacteria will build up, causing gum disease and cavities (and then you’re surprised when you need a root canal or gum surgery!). Another thing that surprises me is that many patients will say, “I’m too tired at night to do anything – I only brush in the morning.” Too bad for this group since bacteria do the most damage to teeth and gums while you sleep. The saliva is less effective while you sleep and the bacteria much more damaging. This is why it’s so important to brush and clean between your teeth every night. Because it is so difficult to floss effectively and without causing damage, I usually recommend the WaterPik. Studies have shown that it is easier for patients to use and we see our patients greatly improve the condition of their gums and also eliminate cavities. If you decide that you want to be in the 2 percent minority that flosses every day – make sure that you do it correctly. If you think that brushing alone will do the trick… think again. We see patient after patient with gum disease and cavities that could have been prevented with a few minutes of “homework” every night. It’s daily cleaning that will prevent damage and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. In addition, the medical jour- nals are loaded with repeated studies that show that people with gum disease are more prone to heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Isn’t your health worth a few minutes a day? JACQUES DOUECK, DDS When Flossing Doesn’t Help