You shouldn’t take that bright and shiny smile of yours for granted.
Far too often, people all around the country do. However, proper oral care is one of the most important practices you can get into. There is a direct connection between one’s oral health and overall health. They should not be viewed as separate entities.
Flossing is one of the most helpful things you can do for your mouth. If you don’t know how to floss teeth properly, you could be in some serious trouble down the line. Read on, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about proper flossing.
Choose Floss You’ll Like
Yes, floss is just a simple little string at the end of the day.
It also comes in a surprising amount of forms, however. There are floss products out there for every type of person and preference.
If you don’t feel comfortable holding floss tight yourself, you might be interested in a variety of disposable short-strings, for example. These keep the floss taut for you.
If you have specific needs due to the arrangement of teeth in your mouth, there might also be specialized floss for you. For example, if you have teeth in tight contact, there is thinner floss available that might be easier for you to use.
It’s important to pick a floss product that you’ll enjoy using. Too often, people give up on flossing because it’s a difficult or frustrating process for them. Picking out a floss product that’s easy for you to use will ensure you stick with it over time.
Proper Flossing Technique
You likely have flossed your teeth at some point in the past. But were you doing it properly? Flossing can only really be helpful to your teeth if you do it correctly.
The correct amount of floss to use is about eighteen inches. If you’re using traditional floss, tie it around the ends of each of your middle finger. You can grasp the initial inch or so on each side of these ties with your pointer finger and thumb. That will give you stability.
With the floss firmly in hand, move it up and down between your teeth. When in between teeth, move it back and forth in a sawing motion. Be careful when you move it between your teeth, as causing it to snap could potentially cause damage to your gums.
Proper angling of the floss should make it easier to move it via the teeth in a smooth motion. If you bend it into a ‘c’ shape it should make it somewhat easier to pass it through.
As you move from tooth to tooth, you’ll need to roll the floss down and move a new clean section between your fingers. The last thing you want to do is take some grime from between two teeth and deposit between two others!
It’s a good idea to work clockwise through your mouth from left to right, if only because it’ll help ensure you don’t miss anywhere.
How Often Should You Floss?
Most professionals would suggest you floss once a day. It’s likely best to do so at the end of the day, where you can help clear out bacteria that may have built up over the course of the day.
However, if it’s easier to fit the task into some other portion of your day, you should go ahead and do that. Getting used to practicing strong oral dental habits will be easier if you make it as simple for yourself as possible.
All that being said, there’s no flossing too much. If you want to floss after each and every meal, there shouldn’t be any downside to that practice. It’s not about how much you floss but how rough you are when you do it.
As long as you’re gentle and kind towards your gums you should run into no issues.
Other Helpful Information
It should be noted that proper flossing is no excuse for not brushing your teeth. Flossing is no replacement for brushing. They both are necessary tasks if you hope to maintain strong oral health.
Health professionals have expressed that brushing and flossing can take place in any order, and there are no real benefits to putting one in front of the other.
There are some situations where you might want to floss more than the recommended one time a day. If you have braces, it’s easy for food to get stuck in the mechanical part of these helpful devices.
For this reason, it’s recommended that a person with braces flosses once after every meal. This will help to get extra food and bacteria away from teeth and gums.
Proper flossing will ensure your teeth stay strong and healthy. Unhealthy gums can lead to problems in your mouth that can be painful and expensive to fix. They can also lead to more serious health problems that can even be life-threatening.
For example, gum problems can often lead to diabetes and heart issues. Not something you want to develop! So floss often and keep these kinds of health issues at bay.
How To Floss Teeth Properly
If you want to stay healthy with a bright, white smile, you need to take charge of your oral health. Learning how to floss teeth properly will do just that. The above information should be the guide you need to stay on top of your flossing habits.
Need more health advice, tips, and tricks? Keep scrolling through our blog for more information.