How to Floss the Teeth Correctly?

Even if you brush your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste, you still might not be doing everything possible to ward off tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Although brushing is the most vital part of your at-home oral hygiene routine, flossing is also imperative. 

Why Is Flossing Important?

Flossing the teeth at least once every day can elevate our oral hygiene and improve our oral and dental health. Brushing can remove bacteria, food debris, and plaque only from the tooth surfaces and easy-to-reach areas in the mouth. When you floss, it helps eliminate debris and bacteria from areas in between teeth and along the gum line as well, thus significantly reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

The major benefits offered by flossing are as follows:

• Get rid of plaque
• Reduce the risk of tooth decay and cavities
• Prevents gum disease
• Reduces bad breath

Flossing: What Are The Steps To Follow?

Since flossing is a vital part of the oral care regimen, it is important to do it in the right way to yield maximum benefits. Here are the steps to follow while flossing: 

• Start with approximately 18 to 24 inches of dental floss. To hold it correctly, wind 1/3 inch of the floss around an index finger and another 1/3 inch around the opposite index finger. Leave the remaining 1 to 2 inches of floss for the teeth.
• Next, grasp the floss between your thumbs and index fingers. Pull the floss tightly. 
• Place the floss in between two teeth. You can start at the back molars and move forward. Gently slide the floss between two adjacent teeth up and down. Make sure that you rub the floss against both sides of every tooth. Take care not to glide the floss into the gums to prevent any bruise or scratch to the gums.
• As the floss meets your gum lines, pull the floss at each tooth's base to form a C shape so that the floss enters and cleans the space between the gums and the tooth effectively.
• Repeat the steps mentioned above for every tooth. And use a new, clean section of floss for each tooth.
• Discard the used floss. 

When Should You Floss?

Flossing at the right time is equally important as following the right method of flossing. During your oral hygiene regimen, it is recommended to floss first and brush your teeth afterward. Flossing releases food debris, bacteria, and plaque from in between the teeth. So, when you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after flossing, these particles can be effectively eliminated from the mouth. 

If you want to learn more about proper oral hygiene techniques, visit 406 Dentistry at 1315 U.S. Hwy 2 W, Kalispell, MT 59901, United States, or call (406) 890-6364 to schedule an appointment.