People who care for their teeth on a daily basis are less likely to require emergency dentistry in later life, experts have claimed.
Martha Cortes, a dentist who practises in the US, told Everyday Health that picking up the right dental habits during childhood and adolescence will help people to avoid serious problems as they get older.
She explained that teenagers who "develop good brushing and flossing habits" are unlikely to resort to emergency dentistry, as they will continue to look after their teeth throughout their life.
Ms Cortes pointed out that a good dental hygiene regime also has other health benefits.
"People with healthy teeth will actually reduce their risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and have lower blood pressure," she commented.
According to guidelines from Colgate, daily flossing is highly recommended to remove plaque in places that a toothbrush cannot reach.
For the best results, the company advises people to use about 18 inches of floss, wind most of it around both middle fingers and hold it tautly between the thumbs and index fingers.