Flossing is something you should be doing every day. But do you know if you’re using the right method? We’ve provided some tips below on the best ways to floss your teeth.
Use Enough Dental Floss
Get an arm’s length of floss for each row of teeth. It will be about 18 inches of floss. This ensures you have a clean section of floss for every tooth. Wrap most of your floss around two fingers of your dominant hand. Hold the end of the floss with your other hand. Do you have problems with the floss cutting off the circulation to your fingers? Then buy an elastic floss that stretches.
Gently Slide the Floss Between Your Teeth
Don’t jam the floss between your teeth. This can potentially damage your gums. Instead, put the pressure of the floss against your tooth, and gently saw the floss down slowly until you reach the gum line. The easiest way to do this is to make the floss hug the side of your tooth, then slowly glide it down.
Roll the Floss Against Each Tooth
You’re not just flossing to remove food that is stuck between your teeth. The other main objective of flossing is to remove plaque and tartar that is stuck just below the gum line. Very gently move the floss against your tooth and slowly saw it down below the gum line. You don’t need to force the floss or press harder when you reach a stopping point. Just be sure you are not doing any damage to your gums.
Don’t be Afraid if Your Gums Bleed
If you don’t floss regularly, some bleeding is normal. The more often you floss your teeth, the less bleeding you will see. In fact, bleeding is a sign that you need to floss your teeth even more. Bleeding is a result of inflammation, and it is your body’s way of trying to attack the plaque that you haven’t been removing from your teeth. If your gums do bleed, then it is usually the first sign of gum disease. You should get a teeth cleaning and talk to your dentist, and get on a regular schedule of flossing to protect your teeth and gums.
For more tips on flossing and oral health care, come see us at North Tonawanda Family Dentistry! We can show you the best way to floss during your regular teeth cleaning. Schedule an appointment by giving us a call or request to book an appointment online!