Flossing is something that majority of people take for granted. They feel like brushing their teeth is all they need to do in order to maintain good oral health. The truth is that flossing is just as, if not more important than brushing for preventing cavities and the buildup of plaque. This is because floss can clean spots in your mouth where toothbrushes cannot reach like in between your teeth or beneath the gum line. If plaque accumulates in those areas it can lead to things like gum disease and the decay of your teeth.
There is a correct method for flossing effectively. Generally you want to cut a piece of floss around 18 inches long. Curl the majority of the floss around your thumbs so that you leave a about 1-2 inches for your teeth. Make that section taught and gently place the floss in between your teeth and start to go up and down cleaning the sides of each tooth. You should then wrap the floss around the curves of your tooth to scrape any plaque off of the surface. Also make sure you touch under the gum line (in between your gums and the base of your tooth) to remove any possible debris. Make sure you are extremely gentle here though to avoid damaging any tissue. Whenever you switch to another “in between part” of the tooth make sure you are using a clean part of the floss. If you notice a bit of blood coming from your gums after flossing, that is normal, as long as it is not flowing out in excess.
What type of floss should I buy?
When choosing which floss to use there are two major kinds. There if nylon floss and a floss called PTFE. For nylon floss, there are different variations. You can either get it with or without wax. It also comes in different flavors or flavorless if you prefer. These variations do not effect the performance of the floss, but is more for personal preference. One drawback of nylon floss is that it will shred easily especially in tight spots between your teeth. The PTFE floss is a bit smoother and more tear resistant. Some people feel it slides a bit easier between the teeth than nylon floss. Both are equally as effective in cleaning plaque and other debris.
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