Dental floss – how to use floss correctly?

Brushing teeth with dental floss (floss) is an important element of oral hygiene. Flossing cleans and removes food stuck between teeth, reducing bacteria and plaque in the mouth. How to floss and why is it important?

Although many people brush their teeth daily, not everyone flosses. Of course, it’s not enough to just floss. It is important to use it correctly. Improper flossing can potentially damage your teeth and gums.

Dental floss: instructions for use

1. Cut or tear off about 30-45 cm of dental floss from the spool.
2. Wrap most of the thread around the middle or index fingers of both hands. Wrap most of the thread around the index finger of one hand and a small part around the middle finger of the other hand.
3. Leave only 5-10 cm of free dental floss between your fingers.
4. Pull the thread with your thumb and forefinger.
5. Grab the resulting working area with your thumbs and forefingers and insert it into the gap between the teeth. Act carefully, without sudden movements and excessive pressure, so as not to injure the gums.
6. Guide the thread with hand movements along the wall of the tooth: the lower jaw from top to bottom, the upper jaw from top to bottom.
7. We process each gap twice: first the surface of one tooth, then the other.
8. Use a new, clean section of floss for each tooth.

Flossers may be sold with “slingshot” holders that may be easier to use.

It also doesn’t matter where to start brushing: from the upper or lower teeth, or from the front or back. Just make sure you floss all the spaces between your teeth. You should also floss along the sides of the teeth that border the spaces where there are no teeth – food particles can get there as well.

Back teeth are more difficult to reach and keep clean than front teeth. Back teeth have grooves and ridges to help chew food, but they can also collect small food particles, which can increase the risk of tooth decay and plaque bacteria, which in turn can lead to gum disease.

How to floss better for people with braces

Flossing if you have braces can be difficult and time-consuming. If you use regular thread, allow 10-15 minutes for the process. For this method, choose a waxed thread that is less likely to break or get stuck in the braces.

Instructions for using dental floss for braces

1. Cut about 45 cm of waxed dental floss.
2. Stand in front of a mirror to make sure the thread is going where you want it to go.
3. Begin by threading the floss between the teeth and the archwire. Wrap the free ends of the thread around your index fingers to move the thread easily.
4. Insert the floss between the two teeth as gently as possible. Then move the floss up and down the sides of both teeth.
5. When brushing your upper teeth, try flossing to form an upside-down U. To do this, go up from one tooth until you reach the gum line.
6. Then thread the floss down the side of the other tooth.
7. Carefully remove the thread and pull it out from behind the wire.
8. Avoid pulling the floss out of the tooth as you may dislodge the wire.
9. Now move on to the next two teeth and use the same technique until you have flossed between all the teeth.

Besides using waxed floss, there are other options that work well for people with braces. For example, superfloss.

When to floss

Some people usually brush their teeth first and then floss. However, it is usually recommended that you floss first and then brush your teeth.

Flossing helps lift and loosen food particles and plaque stuck between the teeth, while brushing removes these particles from the mouth.

If you brush first and then floss, food and plaque remain in your mouth until you brush again.

Dentists recommend flossing at least once a day and brushing twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Types of dental floss

There are several types of dental floss. Which type of floss is best for you depends on your preferences, the amount of space between your teeth, and whether you have braces or bridges. Some types of floss are easier to use in large spaces, while other types of floss are easier to use in tight spaces.

Different types of dental floss include:

Dental tape. This type of floss is wider and flat like a band, making it easier to use if you have braces, gaps or large gaps between your teeth.

Standard thread. This is a thin nylon thread that can fit between the teeth. They are scented or unscented, as well as waxed or unwaxed. If your teeth are crowded or close together, waxed floss can make it easier to get between them.

Superfloss. This floss consists of three parts: a stiff end for convenient flossing in hard-to-reach places, a sponge floss for cleaning around braces, and a regular floss for removing plaque below the gum line.

There are also irrigators that use water and pressure to remove plaque and food from between teeth. Some of them are portable, powered by a battery, and some are stationary, powered by the mains. This option is great if you have trouble using regular thread. These devices are also helpful if you have braces.

Good oral hygiene involves more than just brushing your teeth. This is also the correct way to floss. Flossing helps remove bacteria, plaque and food from between your teeth, and reduces the chance of tooth decay and gum disease.

However, improper flossing can lead to unpleasant consequences, so it is important to be thorough but careful. You can always ask your dentist for advice on how to floss properly.

Along with regular brushing and flossing, schedule regular professional cleanings and dental checkups.