How to Floss
Dental floss is either a bundle of thin nylon filaments or a plastic (teflon or polyethylene) ribbon used to remove food and dental plaque from teeth. The floss is gently inserted between the teeth and scraped along the teeth sides, especially close to the gums. Dental floss may be flavored or unflavored, and waxed or unwaxed.
You probably know that brushing alone won’t take care of your oral hygiene – you hear it all the time from commercials, your dentist, probably even from your mother.
You probably know they’re all right, too.
Brushing alone won’t get rid of all the horrid food particles and plaque left in between your teeth and your gums that become bacteria’s haven. Soon, these deep dark places become a playground for all kinds of dental diseases including cavities and bad breath.
That’s what the floss is good for, because it is a stringy material used to clean in between teeth and places that the brush can’t reach. It helps prevent this little playground you already have from becoming a bacteria theme park.
Floss can come waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, thin or wide. The kind of floss you want is entirely up to you, though you might want to consider that waxed floss slip in between teeth easier, and smooth and soft floss ensure the maximum comfort for your gums. Of course, flavor doesn’t hurt either.
It is recommended to floss before brushing at least once a day, or once every 24 hours.
Here’s how:
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises to floss once or more per day. It should be noted that overly vigorous or incorrect flossing can result in gum tissue damage. For proper flossing, the Association advises to curve the floss against the side of the tooth in a ‘C’ shape, and then to wipe the tooth from under the gumline (very gently) to the tip two or three times, repeated on adjacent tooth and on all other teeth too. Dental floss does not clean the interproximal areas beneath the contact point, because the area is concave.