Step-by-Step Instructions to Floss Properly

Types of dental floss

When it comes to flossing, there are a few varieties that you can choose from. Waxed, unwaxed, unflavored and flavored flosses are all available and what you choose really depends on what you personally prefer. Aside from these varieties, you want to know the basic flosses to choose from and decide which may be better suited for your teeth.

• Nylon or multifilament floss consists of a number of nylon strands. This type tends to be stringy and more prone to breaking while flossing. You can find this floss in either waxed or unwaxed.

• PTFE monofilament floss of single filament floss is made with only one strand of thread. This type of floss tends to be better for getting in between teeth since it can easily get between the tiniest of spaces. While this floss can be more expensive, you are less likely to have shredding when using and it lasts for a long time, so you won't need to spend money on floss too often.

• Tape floss or super floss is also available if you have slightly wider gaps between your teeth. This type of floss is typically used to help clean braces or dental bridges and can be more effective at cleaning teeth that have larger gaps between them.

Getting ready to floss

You want to begin by taking about a 20-inch section of floss and wrap it around the middle fingers. Before discussing how to floss, you want to know you can either floss before or after brushing your teeth. Flossing before you brush your teeth can allow more fluoride to penetrate deeper between the teeth and ensure you remove any particles left from flossing. Flossing after you brush allows for most particles and foods bits to be removed.

Holding the floss

After wrapping the floss between your middle fingers, you want to hold the floss using your thumb and pointer finger. There should be about 4 inches of floss to work with after you have grabbed it with the thumb and pointer finger.

Flossing

When flossing the top teeth, it is best to use your thumbs to guide the floss between the teeth. When flossing the bottom teeth, it can be easier to use the pointer finger to guide the floss between the teeth.

Where to start

While you can begin flossing on any tooth, most people find it easier to begin between the top two center teeth. However, it doesn't matter which area you begin with, it only matters that you floss between every tooth. Once you have chosen where to start you want to gently glide the floss between the teeth and rub the floss back and forth. Avoid being too aggressive or yanking the floss between the teeth as this can hurt the gums or even cause them to bleed.

Flossing direction

Once you have the floss in place between your teeth, you'll want to create a C-like shape with the floss. Use a back and forth motion to remove all the hard to reach plaque and particles between the teeth. You want the floss to dip into the gum line by a few millimeters and curve it around the bone by moving in an up and down motion. How to floss near the gum line? You want to ensure you are reaching the contours of each tooth.

Floss each tooth

You don't want to try to speed up the process by wrapping the floss around the tooth to reach between both sides at once. Instead, floss between each tooth separately so you can be more precise in the cleaning efforts. If you need a cleaner area of floss, simply unravel it from the middle finger. It is recommended you use a clean area of floss for each tooth, which may require needing to get an entirely new piece of floss. Don't be alarmed if your gums bleed. If you don't floss often, bleeding gums is a sign that you should be flossing more often, typical the bleeding and swelling will occur less the more often you floss.

Don't miss the hard to reach teeth

The back of the mouth is often where gum disease or tooth decay begins and occurs, so you don't want to miss the back molars when flossing. It can be more difficult to reach this area but it is a vital step in flossing. Guide the floss between the back molars and pull the floss towards the front of the mouth to clean the area.

Rinse

Once you have flossed all your teeth, you want to rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. This will allow most of the debris leftover from flossing to be cleared away, as well as help dislodge any particles left behind that were not removed while flossing. A chlorhexidine mouthwash is more effective at ridding bacteria from the mouth while also providing additional protection to the teeth and gums.

Repeat

How to floss for healthier teeth is something that needs to be done on a regular basis. You should get into the habit of flossing at least once a day for two or three minutes. If you have eaten a meal consisting of foods that are more likely to stay lodged in your teeth, like corn on the cob, it is recommended to floss to remove the particles from the teeth every time. Even flossing for 30 seconds at a time can be more beneficial than not flossing at all.

Other flossing options

• Flossing holders tend to be a “Y” shaped device that holds the floss for you. They make floss easier without too many directions.

• Floss threads are great to use if you have had any dental work.

• Water flossers use a stream of water to blast particles from your teeth. This should be used in addition to flossing but can help reduce bleeding of sensitive gums.

Additional things to remember

• The back teeth collect more particles because of all the ridges they feature. It can take 20 minutes for plaque to formed on these teeth which is why you should always take the time to floss them thoroughly every day.

• While you want to be effective in your flossing efforts, it is also important to be gentle during the process, especially when using an electric flosser. Before using an electric flosser, be sure to read the direction and know how to properly use it before you begin.