Proper Flossing Technique
on Wednesday, January 2, 2019
You brush your teeth twice a day, flossing should be just as much an important part of your routine for oral health. Neglecting to floss can easily lead to gum disease so learning how to floss correctly is incredibly important as well. Here’s a guide to help you learn how to floss more effectively:
Remember that flossing isn’t just about moving the thread of the floss between your teeth. You must slide it on the tooth surface on either side to clean away plaque. To make things easier, use 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of the string around the middle fingers of each and then hold the free floss between your forefinger and thumb while using a rubbing motion to guide it between teeth.
Once the floss reaches the gum line, form a “C” shape with the floss to follow the shape of the tooth. Hold the strand firmly against the tooth and move it gently up and down. Repeat with the adjacent tooth, then with the rest of your teeth using fresh sections of floss as you go.
If you’re just starting to floss or don’t floss regularly, your gums will sometimes bleed. This should stop within a week or two. However, you mustn’t be overly vigorous with your flossing. Don’t dig into your gums too much. If you have trouble flossing your back teeth, try using a floss holder – a small plastic instrument with a short hand that allows you to reach more easily.
Flossing is an essential part of oral health. Make it a part of your daily routine and floss twice a day with brushing.
Of course, a crucial part of oral health is regular visits to your dentist. Be proactive about your oral health – schedule an appointment today for an oral checkup and cleaning with Gresham Family Dentistry. At Gresham Family Dentistry our priority is your comfort. We take pride in protecting the oral health of Gresham families. We offer cleaning, oral surgeries, child dentistry, and more at Gresham Family Dentistry. Contact us today for an appointment or call 503-661-2600.
Our hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Thursday 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
IMG SRC: Stan Zurek [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5 from Wikimedia Commons]
