Maintaining excellent dental health requires flossing, but many Henrico residents might not be completely aware of the optimal flossing techniques. To avoid cavities and gum disease, proper flossing helps remove food particles and plaque that a toothbrush cannot reach. This post offers a thorough explanation of the right flossing methods to guarantee the best outcomes and preserve dental health as explained by a Henrico dental office.
Choosing the Right Floss
You must choose the appropriate floss type for your purposes before beginning any methods. Dental floss is available in several formats, such as tape or floss picks, and it can be both flavored and unflavored. It can also be waxed or unwaxed. Most people find that waxed floss slides more easily between teeth, particularly if their teeth have tight contacts. If you have larger spaces between your teeth, floss tape can be a better option. Furthermore, while conventional floss works better at cleaning in between teeth, some individuals find floss picks or interdental brushes more practical.
How to Floss the Right Way?
1. Get the Floss Ready: Snip off an 18-inch piece of floss. This piece is long enough for you to have a clean portion of floss when moving on from tooth to tooth—otherwise, bacteria can get moved between areas.
2. How to Position the Floss: Wind each end of your floss around your middle fingers, leaving 1 or 2 inches of floss in between. Grasp the floss between your thumbs and forefingers while encircling with it around your teeth in a soft movement.
3. How to insert the Floss: Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion. Avoid jamming the floss as this can harm your gums. Form the floss into a C-shape around the base of each tooth and slide it below your gum line.
4. Floss between Teeth: When the floss is in place, move it up and down against either side of one tooth. If you have any plaque or food particles just gently press it out. Being gentle but thorough will help prevent any gum damage.
5. Clean Compound: As you progress from one tooth to the next, release a fresh line of floss out of your hands. It will prevent contamination and ensure that every part of your mouth gets properly cleaned.
6. Finish the job: Once you floss all your teeth, rinse out any remaining particles by rinsing a little water or some antibacterial mouthwash. This last step serves in the removal of any recently dissolved plaque and bacteria.
How to Floss and Maximize Your Oral Cleanliness?
1. Practice Daily Flossing: To have perfect maintenance, try to daily keep in routine of floss after brushing your teeth. For that, flossing once a day is enough but try to do it every time at the same hour of the day.
2. Be Kind: Flossing shouldn’t make you bleed or cause pain. In case you notice bleeding, it means your gums are unhealthy and that may be symptomatic of gum disease or over-aggressiveness in flossing. Visit your dentist if the bleeding does not stop.
3. Technique Matters: Refrain from snapping or driving the floss between your teeth. Instead, guide the floss into place with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Implementing the proper technique can help you avoid damaging your gums and as well make for a more thorough cleaning.
It is important to note that you should floss daily, but do so gently and carefully while visiting your dentist regularly which ensures protected oral health.