How To Floss Properly

Proper flossing includes doing the following:

1.Using the right amount of floss. When you floss, remove about 18 inches of floss from the container, or use a pick, which is a small device with prestrung floss. 18 inches allows for you to have enough to wrap around your fingers, while still giving you a good flossing surface, and the ability to move to a new piece of floss for each tooth.

2.Holding your floss the right way. If you get your floss from the container, wrap it a few times around a middle finger, then wrap the remainder around a middle finger on the other hand, leaving 1 to 2 inches of floss in the center to be inserted between teeth. You then want to pull the floss taut and pinch it between your thumbs and index fingers, but be careful not to cut the circulation off from your fingers.

3.Be gentle, get the gumlines. Snapping your floss in and out of your teeth is a poor idea. With the floss in the center of your fingers stretched tight, slowly and gently work floss between your teeth and down to the gumline. Be sure to go a good millimeter or two under the gum to remove any plaque or food particles that are trapped under the gum.

4.Don’t be rough. You do not want to snap the floss in and out of your teeth, this can cause gum damage. Gum damage is not good, so if your gums are bleeding, be more gentle, and give your gums some time, but keep on flossing.

5.Up and down not side to side. Most people think floss should go back and forth at the gumline to clean out crud, but this is incorrect, once it is in your gumline you will want to scrape away the food particles and plaque by moving the floss up and down the tooth and under your gumline.

6.Brush well. When you floss, you want to do that before you brush. Once you’ve flossed, brush your teeth using proper technique. This will help eliminate loosened buy not removed plaque etc.

Your dentist has probably asked you if you floss daily, and yet you may not be doing it. Flossing is one of the most important things you can do for the health of your teeth. Flossing helps to keep your teeth free of decay and plaque build-up. This buildup, over time leads to cavities, root canals, and a whole host of other dental problems. No matter how well you brush, if you do not floss properly you will likely get cavities.

Other things you should know about flossing…

•Use the right floss for your mouth. If you have wide gaps in your teeth, dental tape may be a better option than floss. This is wider than floss, and works better for people with gaps.

•Use the right floss for your situation. Regular old dental floss is not always the right option. For example, if you have dexterity problems, or may if you are all about easy and want something a little more convenient, you can purchase floss picks that are pre-strung, and that allow you to floss with one hand, then discard the pick when you’re finished. Or maybe you have a child, and you need motivation to floss, try a good flavor. Whatever type you decide use is your personal preference, but make sure the floss is approved by the ADA (American Dental Association.)

•Floss daily. Experts recommend you floss at least once a day.

•Floss in the right order. You should floss your teeth before you brush your teeth or use mouthwash after, so you can brush or swish away any debris from your mouth. Although this was mentioned above, it is worth repeating.

•Use the floss you like. If you like your floss, you will be more inclined to use it. There are a lot of varieties of floss out there, so pick one that fits between your teeth, glides easily, has a pleasant taste, and that you like. It really will not matter a whole lot whether it is waxed, unwaxed, or flavored. Most people prefer waxed floss, as it slides in and out easier and is less likely to shred as you floss your teeth.