How to floss your teeth
Use unwaxed floss if possible. Unwaxed floss has fibers that spread out between your teeth and clean better- If your floss always tears or cannot be inserted normally, consider Glide floss or a lightly waxed floss
- Use about 14 inches of floss
- Wrap it around your middle fingers with about 2-3" in between
- As you move around your mouth, use one middle finger as a "take-up reel", using fresh floss in each area
- Grab the floss between your thumb and index finger
- The further back you go, you will be more comfortable stretching the floss over the tips of your index fingers
- Gently saw the floss back and forth to get it in between your teeth. Do not snap it in
- Stop the sawing motion as soon as the floss is in-between
- Push the floss against the curve of one tooth
- Move it up and down, under the gum as far as it will comfortably go
- Repeat this movement on the tooth next to it
- Snap the floss up to remove it. If it catches or shreds, pull it out sideways and re-wrap your middle finger
- Let your dentist know if the floss consistently shreds or catches
FLOSSING ADJUNCTS: FLOSS Threaders
- Used like a needle threader
- Pull floss underneath connected restorations
- Use for fixed bridges and between connected implants
- Use for braces and permanent retainers
- OK to floss with a doubled piece of floss as pulled through by the threader
FLOSSING ADJUNCTS: Floss "Swords"
- Floss swords work nicely if dexterity or access is a problem
- They are quite handy and hygienic to keep in purses or cars for "spot-flossing"
- Make sure that the floss curves around the tooth surfaces as above
FLOSSING ADJUNCTS:
Proxybrushes or go-betweens
- Work well when there are larger spaces between teeth, crowns, or bridges
- Still need to floss, as they do not clean the area of contact
- Good for general cleaning around braces
- Good for around implants
FLOSSING ADJUNCTS: superfloss or thornton's
- "Fluffy" floss on a long string
- Stiff end to push in between teeth
- Regular floss on the other end
- Cleans difficult and hard-to-reach spaces
FLOSSING ADJUNCTS: Waterpiks
- NEVER a replacement for flossing
- Does not remove adherent plaque bacteria
- Is very good at removing gross food debris
- Can use therapeutic mouthwashes as an irrigant
- Very good for braces and many implant restorations