While we recommend that our patients floss their teeth regularly. We also want them to floss correctly. If you are not sure how to floss, you need to ask us how to floss properly.
Flossing helps you to fight gum disease and maintain a healthy smile. However, to ensure good gum and tooth health, you need to know how to floss correctly. By flossing your teeth properly, you can get rid of interdental plaque and the bacteria that can cause cavities between the teeth. Flossing also polishes the teeth so they are much cleaner and free of debris.
To floss the right way, you need to break off about 18 inches of dental floss, Wrap part of it around your middle finger and another part around your other middle finger. Leave about an inch of floss for cleaning your teeth. Hold the floss taut with your thumbs and index fingers, placing the floss between 2 teeth.
Gently glide the string up and down, rubbing the floss against each side of the teeth. Never glide the floss into the gums, as this can bruise them or scratch them. Instead, as the floss reaches the gum line, curve the string at the base of the tooth and form a “C.” This permits the floss to get in-between the space of your gums and teeth. Repeat these steps as you move from one tooth to the next. As you do so, use a new and clean 1-inch section of floss.
Don't floss too hard, as doing so can lead to problems. You can scratch the gums, and cause an infection, which can defeat the purpose of flossing in the first place. Make sure you use a gentle movement whenever you are flossing your teeth. The same holds true for tooth brushing. Use a gentle movement when you brush your teeth. Otherwise, you can do some damage to your gums and teeth.
If you need to receive instructions on flossing your teeth, we can help. We want you to know how to floss your teeth properly so you can enjoy better oral health. Give us a call today for a professional cleaning and exam.
