How To Floss Properly By Dr. Joseph Wilbanks At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

One factor that is important of the overall health of your teeth and gums is flossing. Flossing regularly is the main way to prevent cavities in between the teeth, as well preventing gum disease, which can be a serious problem that leads to other more costly, painful procedures.

Neglecting to floss your teeth can lead to a number of serious dental and gum problems. One of these is cavities. Brushing does not clean in between your teeth. When the plaque and food and sugar in between your teeth are not removed by flossing, they start to eat away at the enamel in your teeth, eventually causing cavities in between the teeth. These are difficult, if not impossible, to detect without an x-ray from the dentist.

Gum disease is another result of not flossing. Flossing properly is also important for the gum line. Gum diseases, or periodontal diseases, occur when people don’t brush or floss enough. Some common symptoms of this include sore or bleeding gums, hardened gums, and eventual tooth decay.

How to floss properly

Dental experts recommend you floss at least once a day. Follow these instructions for proper flossing:

1.Find a floss you like to use. There are many varieties. Many people prefer waxed floss, as it slides in and out easier and is less likely to shred while flossing in and out. In addition, flavors such as mint, cinnamon, or plain are also available. Whatever you use is your personal preference, but make sure the floss is approved by the ADA (American Dental Association.)

2.Remove about 18 inches of floss from its container. Wrap it a few times around one middle finger, then wrap most of the remainder around your other middle finger. Or, you can wrap it around your index fingers; again, it’s a matter of personal preference.

3.Leaving 1 to 2 inches of floss in the center, pull the floss taut and pinch it between your thumbs and index fingers. These fingers will be your guides as you floss.

4.Keeping the floss in the center taut, slowly and gently work floss between your teeth and down to the gum line. Avoid snapping the floss into your gums. This can cause damage and bleeding to your gums.

5.Holding the floss against your tooth, scrape away food particles and plaque by moving it up and down the tooth and under the gumline. Do not pull floss back and forth. Again, this can cause damage to your gums.

6.Brush your teeth. Flossing is just part of dental health; brushing is equally important. After you floss, brush away the particles and plaque that the flossing helped to eliminate. Proper brushing technique is to brush for at least two minutes (a minute on the top and a minute on the bottom) in a circular motion, concentrating on the gum line. In addition, you should be brushing at least twice a day and changing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.

Proper flossing will help you to have a healthy smile and reduce your chances of getting tooth decay or other problems.

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