It is essential to pay attention to every little detail when you do your oral care routine.
Now, looking at your teeth and gums can give you information about yourq oral health. However, smells can also give you crucial information that you could be ignoring.
After you floss, the string shouldn't have any unpleasant odor or smell. Unfortunately, on many occasions, you can sense an odor on it. This could indicate that something is going on with your gums or teeth.
We will explain in this article why it smells when you floss and how to eliminate it.
Why does my floss smell bad?
The mouth is covered in bacteria. Although most of them are useful, as they aid in digestion and prevent diseases, some bacteria can cause halitosis.
Halitosis is the term used to describe a foul or unpleasant odor in the mouth. This is usually referred to as bad breath.
This odor can easily impregnate the floss and make it smell bad. However, it depends on the severity of the smell.
The odor is usually caused by food leftovers between the teeth, especially meats and fibrous food. Bacteria begin to consume and discompose the food when it is not removed from the mouth. Furthermore, it only takes around 24 hours to start releasing unpleasant smells.
Moreover, odor-producing bacteria are also involved with gum disease and caries. The floss gets inside the sulcus when the flossing technique is done properly. This is the small pocket that is located under the gum line. If you have gum disease, the floss will get impregnated with the odor when getting inside the sulcus.
Why does my breath smell after I floss?
The smell that is contained between the teeth can be released after flossing. However, it is usually hardly noticeable to others as it tends to be mild.
Moreover, unhealthy gums are prone to bleed when flossing. Although the bleeding is frequently mild, on some occasions, it can be severe and cause bad breath. Fortunately, it tends to last for a brief period and disappears after brushing and rinsing with mouthwash.
How do I get rid of the smell between my teeth?
There are multiple ways to get rid of the odor between the teeth and prevent the floss from smelling bad.
- Floss daily
Flossing once per day, every day, allows you to remove any food leftovers before they start smelling bad.
Besides, using additional tools such as the Oclean W1 Water Flosser can help you clean better between the teeth and prevent bacteria from causing odor. Also, by spraying water, this dental water flosser helps you perform a deeper cleaning.
- Brush twice a day
Brushing helps remove bacteria and prevent caries that could cause odor. Using the Oclean Smart Toothbrush is the best way to ensure complete bacteria removal. It is proven that brushing with an electric toothbrush is more effective than using a manual version.
- Periodic dental appointment
Your dentist can remove plaque and calculus through a professional cleaning to heal your gums and eliminate the smell.
Furthermore, your dentist can treat any hidden caries that could be releasing a foul odor.
*Cover image from Freepik@kues1, we will delete it if constitutes infringement *
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