As a result of the accumulation of plaque between the teeth and on the gum line, periodontal disease can develop. You can prevent the disease with proper oral hygiene. But simply brushing your teeth with a toothbrush is not enough. Using dental floss (eng. dental floss) will help keep even the most hard-to-reach areas clean. But not everyone knows how to properly use dental floss. We will talk about this in this article.
Floss Selection
If you’ve never flossed before, start with a gripper. Also look out for waxed flosses – they do a great job. In general, dental floss is divided into two types:
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thread – made from a solid thread that glides perfectly in very narrow places. Such products are also called monofilament.
- Nylon (complex) thread – a product made from many nylon threads, which provides ductility. May tear into fibers when brushing teeth.
How to properly floss your teeth
To get the most out of flossing your teeth, follow these guidelines:
- Take 0.5 meters of floss, wrap most of it around your middle fingers, leaving a gap for brushing your teeth.
- Pinch the product between your index and thumb fingers, floss up and down between your teeth.
- Wrap the floss around the base of the tooth in such a way that it penetrates very gently under the gumline. This must be done very carefully so as not to injure the mucous membrane.
- Rewind the floss gradually so that there is a clean section of the product for each section of the teeth.
- To remove floss from the interdental space, move your fingers back and forth smoothly.
The figure below shows schematically how to use the floss:
If you use your dental floss regularly and correctly, you will be able to effectively remove food debris, as well as plaque in those places where the brush cannot reach. The result is healthy gums and teeth.
A few more tips:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before flossing your teeth.
- You can floss with a pen or holder to start with.
- Don’t be lazy to floss daily, especially right after meals and before bed.
- If you wear braces, check with your dentist before flossing.
- If you have a filling or inlay, be careful when cleaning.
Now you know how to floss correctly, and you can take better care of your oral hygiene! Dentistry in Kyiv Prizma will help keep your teeth and gums healthy!
