Proper Flossing Techniques

We all have to to do it, some of us do it often, some of us only do it when we know we have a visit scheduled.  Almost all of us hate to do it.  I’m talking about flossing your teeth.

Colgate has a really great video on proper flossing.   If you’re not flossing your teeth, you can be missing out on cleaning 40% of the tooth’s surface. Flossing is an important part of your oral health routine and helps to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Whether you choose waxed or un-waxed dental floss, the process is the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydvo_XU03s4

What is the right way to floss?  Well it’s simple actually.

• Starting with 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
• Holding the floss tight,  between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth.  Make sure you are not cutting or sawing your gums.  Just enough to scrape any build up off the sides of your teeth and loosen any particles
• Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue
• Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth
• To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth

Flossing is a great part to a healthy mouth.  Forgetting to floss for extended periods of time can cause serious plaque to build up and harden.  If you have any questions about proper flossing don't hesitate to give us a call at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry.  Our number is (720) 638-6114