Adebiyi told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday that dental floss was used to clean and remove food particles from the interdentally spaces of the teeth that the brush could not usually penetrate.
“Dental floss is like a thread usually medicated, applied between the tooth and it works like a magnet because it usually comes out of the tooth with the food particles.
“Dentists encourage dental flossing above tooth picking because, sometimes, a tooth pick pushes whatever you want to remove from the teeth into the gum, thereby injuring it and bleeding occurs,” she said.
Adebiyi advised people to floss after every meal, saying, “When you feel the urge for a toothpick, use a dental floss instead.”
She said that a dental floss also helped to massage the gum around the tooth.
Adebiyi, who is also the Chief Dental Officer of the Federation, said that people should change their tooth brushes after every three months.
She, however, said that a tooth brush should also be changed when the turfs start to look disarranged or worn out.
The dentist explained that tooth brushes came in different turfs or textures, which included the soft, medium and hard tufted toothbrushes.
Adebiyi said the medium tufted toothbrush was generally better to use, adding that a dentist would prescribe the particular texture that is best to use, depending on your dental health.
She, however, advised people who had compromised periodontal conditions to use the soft tufted toothbrush.
According to the director, periodontal diseases are infections of the gum and bone that surround and support the teeth.
“If the ligaments and tissues that hold the teeth are not strong enough, such a person will be advised to use a soft tufted tooth brush,” she stated.
Adebiyi said the hard tufted brush was prescribed for people who smoke, take coffee and chew kola nuts and tobacco.
“Such people need to use the hard tufted brush to remove the stains of such items left on the teeth after consumption,” she said.
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