If you want to learn how to floss properly, you just need to make secure that you follow a few easy steps. Firstly, you need to be aware of the importance of flossing. Flossing on a daily basis removes plaque and debris which cannot be removed by brushing alone. If you floss your teeth, you have more chances to keep them throughout your whole life, reducing the risk of gum problems. Furthermore, flossing will help you get rid of bad breath, among a lot of other benefits.
Before anything else, you just need to make sure that you use the most effective dental floss. You can choose between waxed, unwaxed, flavored or unflavored floss. However, you need to know that floss comes in two basic forms. The first one is the nylon floss, which consists of many strands of nylon fabric. This one can be waxed or unwaxed. The second type is PTFE floss, being made up of a single strand, gliding in between the tightest spaces.
Do you want to know how to floss properly? Here are some tips
Some people prefer to floss after brushing their teeth. However, it is best to brush your teeth after flossing because you help more fluoride from the toothpaste to reach between your teeth. You need to hold the floss between your thumbs and forefingers of both hands. Approximately 3 to 4 inches of the floss should be exposed. You need to wrap the floss around your index fingers so that you can easily grab it with your thumbs and index finger.
Experts indicate that is easier to use your thumbs to floss your upper teeth and your index fingers to floss your bottom teeth. Nevertheless, you need to do whatever makes you comfortable. It does not matter where you start but is important to cover every tooth. After picking the area, gently slide the floss between your tooth and the gum line.
Once you slide the floss between the teeth, you need to curve it around the bone to and let it dip about 2-3 millimeters down. Then, you need to move it up and down, but be careful to not hurt your gums. Moreover, try using it in a back and forth motion to scrape additional plaque and detritus. After finishing, move the floss back out.
You need to floss in between each tooth, using an up-and-down and then back-and-forth motion
You need to repeat this process between every tooth to floss properly. Specialists claim that it is important to know how to floss properly, making sure you floss your teeth one at a time. It is advisable to not wrap your floss around the gum of one tooth because the process will become less precise. What is more, you will most likely hurt your teeth.
Also, you need to make sure you use a new piece of floss for each tooth. If you experience some minor bleeding in your gums, it means that you need to floss more often. Sometimes, bleeding gums discourage people from flossing to avoid the pain. If you floss regularly, your gums will no longer swallow and bleed.
Summing up, knowing how to floss properly can help you maintain your teeth’s health, keeping them throughout your whole life.