YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT NEGLECTING TO FLOSSย can lead to all kinds of oral health problemsโincluding tooth decay and periodontal disease. But what most people donโt know (or donโt think about) are the correct and incorrect techniques associated with flossing. Theyโre not complicated and theyโre important to know. We hope this helps!
Yes, Ned Is Finally Flossingโฆ But Donโt Be Like Ned
Nice job, Ned! Youโve gone from never flossing to flossing more often! But there are still a few very important things that youโre not doing correctly.ย Now itโs time to tighten up those flossing skills!
Donโt Do These Things That Ned Does:
- Donโt skip a day now and then. Flossย dailyย to remove harmful bacteria.
- Donโt โsaw back and forthโ which could cut into your gums. Slide the floss up and down against the toothโs surface.
- Donโt flossย tooย aggressively. Snapping the floss into your gums can cut them and damage the tissue.
- Donโt forget to floss under your gum line to remove hard-to-reach plaque.
- Donโt forget to floss the back side of those very, very back teeth (even though theyโre not up against another tooth).
Important Flossing Tips:
- Start with about 18 inches of floss. Wind most around one finger and the rest around the same finger on the opposite hand.
- Be gentle! Slide the floss between your teeth and below the gums and then use a soft up-and-down rubbing motion.
- Use a new section of your floss for each tooth to avoid spreading bacteria from tooth to tooth.
- Flossing in front of a mirror can help you be more thorough.
- You can floss in the morning or at night, before or after you brush.
Have Questions About Flossing?
Flossing is an important part of your daily oral health routine. However, maximizing the benefit comes from doing it correctly. If you have additional questions about flossing or any other aspect of your oral hygiene, pleaseย contact us. Weโd love to hear from you! And you can always post questions directly on ourย Facebookย page.