How to use dental floss

Dental floss is a common tool for cleaning teeth, however, not everyone knows how to use it properly. Below are instructions on how to use dental floss to clean teeth effectively.

Food stuck in your teeth? Bad breath?... Whatever the reason, flossing is the perfect way to keep your gums healthy and it's an easy addition to your daily routine.

Instructions for using dental floss

Here are five steps to flossing to remove harmful bacteria, tartar, and plaque that can build up between your teeth and along your gum line.

1. Preparation: Cut a piece of dental floss about 18 inches (32 cm) long. Wrap one end around the middle finger of your left hand. Do the same with the other end of your right hand. Leave a few inches of floss in the middle to handle plaque buildup on your teeth.
2. Balanced placement: Pinch the floss between your thumb and index finger to make it tighter and easier to control in your mouth. Your thumb and index finger should be about an inch apart.
3. Find your target: Insert the floss between two teeth. Think of making a C shape with the floss, with a tooth in the middle.
4. Start cleaning your teeth : Gently run the floss up and down the side of your teeth several times. Make sure to reach below the gum tissue where you feel resistance. Slide the floss on both sides of the triangle into the gum tissue. Be gentle, though. Don't jam or force the floss into your gums.
5. Repeat : Most adults have 32 teeth — and all of them need flossing on both sides. Clean each incisor, canine, premolar, and molar. (Remember to floss the backs of your molars, too!) Adjust the floss to each area of ​​your teeth.

What type of dental floss should I use?

There are two types of dental floss to choose from:

• Nylon dental floss (or multifilament)
• PTFE Dental Floss (Monofilament)

Nylon floss comes in waxed and unwaxed varieties, and comes in a variety of flavors. Because this type of floss is made up of multiple nylon strands, it can sometimes tear or fray, especially between teeth with tight contact points. Although more expensive, monofilament (PTFE) floss slides easily between teeth, even those with tight spaces between them, and is virtually tear-resistant. When used properly, both types of floss are excellent at removing plaque and debris.

If regular flossing is difficult for you, you can try toothpicks, liquid floss, or a variety of other flossing alternatives. No matter how you do it, cleaning between your teeth will help keep your smile bright.