Do you know how best to floss and what flossing products are out there? Dr. Gary Chaffee, your dentist in Newbury Park, delivers preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry that helps keep teeth and gums looking and feeling their best. But, oral health really flourishes with regular at-home care. A healthy diet and daily flossing and brushing preserve your tooth enamel and keep gums free of bacteria-filled plaque. Read some flossing techniques so you know you’re performing this oral hygiene routine effectively.
Flossing Done Right
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people of all ages floss their teeth at least once a day. Flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss among American adults. Your Thousand Oaks dentist, Dr. Gary Chaffee, agrees. In fact, he teaches his patients that flossing is every bit as important as brushing is as part of your daily oral health routine.
Dr. Chaffee and his team ask patients to take their time when brushing and flossing. Two minutes per session is good for brushing, and flossing correctly takes a minute or two, depending on the number of restorations, such as crowns or bridges, you may have or if you are wearing braces. Most people floss at bedtime so their mouths are clean during the night.
He also advises picking an ADA-approved flossing product. They come in several varieties:
- Unwaxed
- Waxed
- Flavored
- Y-shaped flossers
- Floss threaders (great for braces)
- Thick or thin
The point is to pick one flossing product and use it every single day. Floss with a clean piece of material each time. Individuals with braces can benefit from water flosser devices (Waterpik), interproximal brushes (which look like tiny bottle brushes) and stiff floss threaders to clean tight interdental spaces and around brackets and wires.
What’s the right way to floss? For best success, follow these steps:
- Take 18 inches of floss from the dispenser, and wind each end around your index or middle fingers of each hand.
- Using your thumb and forefinger, pull the strand taut.
- Carefully push a one to two-inch section between two teeth. Pull it against one tooth surface, making a C-shape, and move the floss up and down.
- Clean your gum line, but be gentle. Expect your gums to bleed a bit and feel tender if you are new to flossing.
- Floss between all your teeth, and also clean behind the backmost molars.
- Wind the used strand around your fingers as you floss all your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water as the last step.
Who Should Floss Their Teeth?
Dr. Chaffee recommends that everyone floss–from children to seniors. Little ones need a parent to help as young hands may not manipulate floss correctly. Additionally, people with restorations such as ceramic crowns, fixed bridges, and dental implants should brush and floss those areas very carefully as they collect food particles and plaque more readily.
As always, Dr. Chaffee and his staff welcome questions about oral hygiene, including flossing. They will be happy to show you proper techniques and to recommend products best suited for your needs. If it’s time for your six-month exam and cleaning, please contact Paraiso Family Dental & Orthodontics to schedule a convenient appointment.