Dental Flossing

Introduction

Flossing or interdental cleaning is recommended once daily in order to reduce the likelihood of gum disease and tooth decay.

• It can occur before or after toothbrushing, or at different time altogether.

Flossing Technique

Proper flossing technique

• Wind 18 inches (45 cm) of floss around the middle fingers of each hand.
• Pinch 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of floss behind thumb and index finger, keep taut between fingers.
• Gently guide floss between the teeth, guiding with the thumb and index fingers.
• Gently wrap floss around the side of the tooth.
• Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gumline.

Water Flossing

Water flossing is a way to clean between and around your teeth.

• A water flosser is a handheld device that sprays streams of water in steady pulses.
• The water, like traditional floss, removes food from between teeth.

Summary

Water flossing is an alternative for traditional flossing for people who have difficulty holding string floss or who have dental work, such as braces, where manoeuvering floss in between teeth can be tricky.

However, traditional floss is still handy because it is small and easy to carry around.

External Links

• Dental Floss
• Why should I use dental floss?