Keep It Simple: Flossing

Flossing, or interdental cleaning, is probably one of the most underrated and talked about method to maintain our teeth clean. But is it as important as people make it out to be? We are just sliding a piece of thread between our teeth! Well, to keep things simple the almighty toothbrush has places we cannot just get to. This is where dental floss comes in.

We shall now start with the basics of flossing as to get a general idea of what it is about. This will be an useful base for the future, as having a basic understanding is necessary for all of us!

First, what is dental floss?

It might sound a bit general, but flossing means to clean between one’s teeth with an interdental cleaning device. These interdental cleaning devices are not limited to just dental floss.  There are wooden sticks, oral irrigators and small brushes to help us clean those tight spots in-between and gumlines. Of course, this should be done in such a way that it does not harm your gums. It shall be noted that flossing should not be painful or harmful at any time, and that there are different products you can switch to in order to make it all a more pleasant experience.

It is important to pick a dental floss that you are comfortable with using. To boil it down there are two types:

Nylon floss, which is the threaded one, usually comes in wax and unwaxed.

PTFE, which is a single strand, is more sturdy and is very unlikely to break. Also easier to slide between small gaps.

Is flossing important?

As to the importance of flossing in our daily lives, you might have heard about some debates here and there. But ultimately, the American Dental Association strongly recommends that, “Flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.” Likewise, dentists in Los Algodones recommend you should floss everyday to keep your teeth as healthy as they can be. The benefits that come from flossing include the removal of food particles and plaque from between the teeth, and preventing gum disease and cavities. Not only that, it also drives bad breath away!And also there is no harm in considering dental floss as an inexpensive way to be thorough with your teeth.

And now, how do I use dental floss? What is the technique?

Before jumping into the use of dental floss, it is important to note some things.    For example, the point of using dental floss is to get rid of plaque and food particles from the places that the toothbrush does not reach. Likewise, this also means that flossing should not hurt or cause bleeding on your gums. A proper technique as well as practice is necessary to avoid doing harm. And last but not least, you should wash your hands, as the floss will be going inside your mouth.

Now to properly use the dental floss, here are the steps:

1. Get about a total 18 inches of floss wrapped around your middle fingers, and hold it with your index fingers and thumbs. This will help you hold the section you are going to use for flossing steady.
2. Move the thread gently in a zigzag motion between your teeth, paying extra attention not your harm gumlines. Do not force the thread while doing this as it may break and harm your gums.
3. Slide to the clean sections of the dental floss after you are done cleaning between intersections.
4. You can curve the floss in such a way that you get the area under the gum line. This is one of the areas the toothbrush cannot reach.

By following these instructions and practicing, you will be taking that extra mile to keep your teeth healthy and that smile shining.

If you are interested in any kind of procedures, remember you can get a free quote from us with the best dentist in Los Algodones!