Flossing, Are You doing It the Right Way?  

Plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, and removing it can be difficult. Daily flossing is an important part of your oral health care routine to help remove the plaque from these areas where a toothbrush doesn’t completely reach. But to truly reap the benefits, you need to use proper flossing technique. 

1. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.
2. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
3. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
4. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
5.  Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the backside of your last tooth.

There are many flossing tools on the market these days, making it easier, convenient and more effective.  Listed are some great alternatives and new tools Chinook Mall Family Dental Clinic wants to share with you-

Waterpik Water Flosser

The Waterpik does a better job of removing bacteria between teeth and even below the gumline, where traditional brushing and flossing can’t reach. Plus, the streams of water massage and stimulate the gums, improving circulation and gum health. It’s not the cheapest item out there, but it’s worth it. If you want a great tool for your dental health.

Sonicare Airfloss

AirFloss is a new device developed by Philips Sonicare to remove plaque biofilm from between the teeth. It uses a rapid burst of air and water droplets—called “microburst technology”—to remove plaque, food buildup, and bad bacteria from between the teeth. The best part? With the push of a button, your teeth are clean in 60 seconds!

Flossing Picks

Even if you prefer traditional floss, there are still ways to make flossing quicker, easier, and more effective. One of the most difficult aspects of flossing for many people is actually maneuvering the floss between the teeth and gums, especially those hard-to-reach molars in the back of your mouth. That’s why several companies offer special flossing picks that make flossing easy even for sensitive teeth. Flossing picks are made of plastic with a piece of floss already attached. The pick holds the floss for you, so you can breeze through your nightly flossing routine in less than half the time it takes with traditional floss. This is a great option for kids who want to floss themselves. They can also be found in fun colorings and packaging!

Threader Floss

If you have braces, a permanent retainer, or other dental restoration, you may struggle with traditional floss because you have to thread the floss around the wires on your teeth. Luckily, Oral-B makes a great product called ThreaderFloss—a single piece of floss with the threader built in, designed specifically for using with braces or other dental implants.

Flavored Floss

For some patients, the minty or cinnamon taste of flavored flosses can make the task of flossing worse. Children in particular may dislike flossing products because of the taste (or lack of taste). Now there are alternatives to the flosses you’re used to finding in your local drugstore aisles, including some pretty wacky, surprising floss flavors. Flavored floss is a fun way to get your kids excited for cleaner teeth.

Get into the habit of flossing your teeth daily! And if you are unsure whether you are doing it correctly, at your next appointment with us at Chinook Mall Family Dental Clinic we will be happy to walk you through the proper techniques of caring for your teeth at home. We look forward to helping you keep your smile healthy and bright!