How To Use Dental Floss Video
Taking care of your teeth and avoiding gum disease is crucial, but getting started can be challenging. That’s why we’ve set up shop! Here, we’ll define flossing and go over some practical tips for incorporating it into your regular practice.
To clean in between your teeth, use dental floss. The plaque and bacteria that can lead to gum disease are also removed, making it useful for more than just keeping your teeth clean. By flossing, you can prevent these potentially damaging particles from becoming lodged in your teeth’s tight spaces. Dental floss (or two strands if you have a lot of teeth) and water are all you need to get started. In addition, you can use any kind of toothpaste or mouthwash you like!
Dental floss is an important part of your oral hygiene routine, but you might not know how to use it correctly. Don’t worry; I’m about to show you how to use dental floss with this dental floss video tutorial. Read on to learn more about How To Floss Back Teeth and how to floss back teeth.
How To Use Dental Floss Video
We all know it’s important, but do you know how to use dental floss—that is, how to use it properly? Whether it’s a dreaded task that you only do the night before a dentist appointment, or a tried-and-true practice in your oral care routine, this article will help you become an expert flosser. So, let’s dive into How to Floss 101.
How to Use Floss—Before or After Brushing?
As one of the most common questions surrounding dental floss, many people ask: do you floss before or after brushing? Turns out, it’s best to floss before brushing. This may come as a shock to those who’ve done a brushing-flossing routine since their childhood years, but the reverse order is actually far better for your mouth.
This is because when you floss, you’re releasing any plaque, bacteria, and food that is trapped in between your teeth. If you were to brush, do this, and then go to bed directly afterwards, it would allow these problematic particles to remain in your mouth until your morning brush.
Bring your planet- and travel-friendly single-use dental floss on your next trip and be sure to floss and then brush so that you can get rid of food and bacteria right away! Because these particles are immediately released and taken care of, it’ll reduce the amount of dental plaque in your mouth, therefore reducing your risk of developing gum disease.
The Correct Way to Use Dental Floss
So now that we know when to floss, let’s get into the actual process. We’ll start with the fact that one-fifth of us are never flossing at all. So, if you’re one of the 40% of Americans flossing at least once a day, well done!
That being said, however, improper flossing techniques may do more harm than good. It’s good to know the basics so that you don’t end up potentially damaging your gums and teeth. To help you out, here’s a step-by-step guide for how to floss teeth.
How to Floss with Waxed Floss
If you’re wondering how to use waxed dental floss, rest assured that the process is generally the same. However, you may notice that it feels slightly different. Because it’s thicker and coated, it may be uncomfortable if your teeth are very close together—but those properties may also make it easier for those who have braces.
How to Floss Teeth—Including the Hard-to-Reach Ones in the Back
So what about those far back molars? How do you reach those? Well, to start, you may want to break off a longer piece of floss. Then, leave more of it unwound (2-3 inches) so that you have more floss to work with.
What’s the Purpose of Floss?
When it comes to how to keep your teeth healthy, brushing and flossing are the dream team. Together, they help to remove food, bacteria, and plaque from the surfaces of your teeth, and the spaces between them. This minimizes your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. While brushing can help with that on its own, combining it with flossing can significantly reduce risk of gum disease and plaque—and the tooth decay it can lead to.
Flossing with Activated Charcoal
Now that you know how to floss, treat your mouth to a Bamboo Charcoal Dental Floss Bundle. Why? Thanks to the activated charcoal, the black floss makes it easy to see the food particles you remove while flossing. Plus, it’ll help to whiten in between your teeth. Made from bamboo and vegan candelilla wax, you’ll have a totally zero-waste, plastic-free flossing experience. Combine that with natural antibacterial properties and essential oils for a fresh breath and both you and our planet will have something to smile about.
How To Floss Back Teeth
Flossing is a very important part of oral hygiene, but not everyone flosses correctly.
In fact, according to a 2012 survey by the American Dental Association, only 35% of people who say they floss actually do so properly.
Here are some tips for making sure you’re doing it right:
First, make sure your floss is clean. This can be done by running it through hot water or using a toothpick to remove any debris on the surface. Then, divide your mouth in half and start on one side.
While keeping the floss taut between your fingers and rotating it around each tooth, slide the floss into one side of the space between teeth and then out the other side. Move along until all teeth have been cleaned.
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Pores get a bad rap, but these microscopic openings in your skin are actually vital for producing oils that moisturize and maintain a healthy complexion. When pores get clogged and form blackheads, however, all you want to do is get rid of them. Preventing blackheads entails much more than lathering up a cleanser and splashing some warm water on your face. Ahead, celebrity esthetician Kate Somerville, founder of Kate Somerville Skincare and Skin Health Experts Clinic, breaks down how to remove blackheads properly—and keep them away for good.
First, how do blackheads form?
Before you attempt to break out the magnifying mirror and remove every blackhead in sight, it’s important you understand where they come from. Somerville explains, “Blackheads form when extra sebum accumulates in the pore, and mixes with debris or dead skin cells, which then oxidizes and hardens.”
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What happens if you don’t remove blackheads?
Blackheads are a type of acne, and if left untreated, they can stretch out the skin around the pore. Somerville adds, “Blackheads can also be stubborn after extractions. Since the pore may not close up right away, it could lead to sebum filling the pore again and leading to another blackhead forming.”
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How do you remove blackheads?
The best way to remove blackheads is to prep the skin with light exfoliation in the shower. Somerville recommends her own ExfoliKate, which removes the top layer of dead skin. It contains resurfacing ingredients like papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin enzymes, as well as lactic acid. “Additionally, steam from the shower helps warm the skin, which softens and opens up pores for easier extraction,” Somerville adds.
“After you shower and dry your skin, wrap your fingers with tissue paper and gently squeeze the blackhead out of the pore,” Somerville instructs. “If you’re heavy-handed, you can squeeze the blackhead out with Qtips.” Be sure to then treat the area with a witch-hazel soaked cotton pad to soothe the skin, she says.
Are extraction tools safe to use at home?
“I also don’t recommend extraction devices, as they can be too abrasive and take off the top layer of skin,” Somerville says of using tools instead of just your fingers. Step away from those pore strips, too. “The best way to fully extract the blackheads using your fingers. Pore strips and peel-off masks can often only take off the top layer of the blackheads and not fully remove it,” she explains.
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She also adds that the worst way to remove blackheads is pinching at it without any preparation. As she mentioned before, properly cleansing, exfoliating and steaming will open up the pores, making extraction more gentle.
How do you prevent blackheads from forming?
There’s no big secret—just consistency. “The best way to prevent blackheads is a good, consistent routine of cleansing and exfoliation,” says Somerville, who suggests a cleanser with sulfur for treating acne and drawing out impurities. She also notes that family genes can play a significant role in acne in general, including blackheads. “My mom struggled with blackheads, and I have struggled with blackheads growing up as well,” she admits. You can’t fight genetics, but with these tips, you’ll at least have a leg up.
Homemade pore extractor
One of the most basic pieces of advice I give out as an esthetician is that dealing with a blackhead when it’s just a blackhead is the best thing you can do for your pores. Open comedones, or blackheads, are clogged pores filled with sebum (oil), dirt/makeup, and dead skin cells that oxidize when exposed to air.
If left to sit around for too long, they move deeper into pores and can rupture, become infected with bacteria, and develop scarring inflammation. Some theories suggest that all acne originates as a micro-comedone.
So, by treating blackheads in their earliest stage, you may prevent more severe breakouts! Regularly cleaning out clogged pores is crucial for overall skin health.
Blackheads also fill and expand pores, and the longer they remain in the pore, the larger the blackhead can become, and the larger your pore will stretch. Oily skin usually means larger pores, and the risk for blackheads is greater. If you have oily skin, you may wonder if that will ever change.
Often as we age, our oil glands slow down and we produce less oil, so it’s not necessarily “once oily always oily,” I can assure you. These simple do-it-yourself blackhead-fighting masks are ideal for oily or acne-prone skin, no matter what stage in life you are in.
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7 DIY Blackhead Masks
1. Honey Blackhead Mask
Honey is not only antibacterial but naturally unclogs pores as well. Using clean fingers, on a clean, dry face, apply small amounts of raw honey to your middle and ring fingers and gently pat on the skin where blackheads are present.
Repeat, concentrating on the chin, forehead, and nose areas, being careful to avoid the under-eye area as bruising can occur. Pat for 1–3 minutes total, not in the same area. Gently wash your face with warm water when finished.
2. Clay Blackhead Mask
Clay is a wonderful ingredient to battle blackheads, drawing out impurities and unclogging pores. Moroccan red clay comes from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and is ideal for oily and acne-prone skin.
- 2 tablespoons Moroccan red clay
- 3 tablespoons rose water
- 1 teaspoon mashed avocado
Combine these ingredients to create a paste. Using clean fingers or a brush, apply mask to the t-zone or acne-prone areas. As soon as the mask starts to lighten (a sign it is dry), rinse with warm water.
Avoid using a metal bowl or spoon for this recipe—instead, use glass or wooden instruments to maintain the potency and effectiveness of the clay’s properties.
flossing teeth smell
A regular bad smell or taste after flossing could indicate that you have a dental problem, especially if you’ve noticed that your breath smells less than pleasant at other times. For example, you could have hidden decay on a tooth or problems with your gums
Drawing impurities and bacteria to the skin’s surface, activated charcoal scrubs are a fantastic oil blasting recipe for blackheads. Use once or twice a week to fight blackheads and dislodge the gunk from those pesky pores.
- 2 tablespoons unscented liquid Castile soap
- 1 tablespoon almond, jojoba, apricot kernel, or vitamin E oil
- 2 tablespoons finely ground brown or white rice flour
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons activated charcoal powder
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In a small bowl, stir together the Castile soap and oil. Add the rice flour, baking soda, and activated charcoal powder. The mixture may bubble up a bit. Keep stirring until smooth and creamy. Transfer to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
To use, splash your face with a little water, so it is damp. Take 1–2 teaspoons of the scrub and gently apply to the face with your fingertips in small, circular motions, being careful to avoid the area around the eyes.
To use as a mask, let the scrub sit on the face for a few minutes for extra oil-absorbing benefits. Rinse with lukewarm water, and pat your face dry. If the scrub becomes too dry, add a little water or almond oil, and stir again until creamy.
4. Egg White Blackhead Mask
Regularly using a deep cleansing mask designed to control oil accumulation in your pores is crucial to keeping blackheads at bay. This mask should be applied at night once a week since the lemon juice can make skin photosensitive (caution with sun exposure, especially if you have a history of photosensitivity, as it may lead to skin hyperpigmentation).
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon clay powder
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
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Beat the egg white until fluffy and then add in the clay and lemon juice and mix well. It will form a paste that you will apply to your t-zone area or any other areas prone to blackheads.
If it’s a bit thick, which will depend on the type of clay you use, add a 1/2 teaspoon of water. After 10 minutes, rinse with warm water. Follow with an appropriate nighttime facial oil or moisturizer.
5. Baking Soda Blackhead Scrub
Combine the baking soda and raw milk in a bowl, and then gently scrub the areas with clogged pores and blackheads. Apply gentle pressure in a circular motion with your fingertips.
If you allow this scrub to partially dry, it becomes more of a gommage that you can gently remove in circular motions with your fingertips. Remove the excess with warm water.
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 tablespoons raw milk
- Add an activated charcoal capsule for extra cleansing power
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6. Bentonite Tea Tree Mask
Another clay that helps draw impurities out of pores is bentonite clay. Bentonite also soothes inflamed skin if you have any active breakouts. Combine bentonite clay with small amounts of water until a paste is formed, not too runny and not too thick it is difficult to spread.
Add one drop of tea tree oil and mix thoroughly. Leave on for 20 minutes and then remove with a warm washcloth.
- 3 tablespoons bentonite clay
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil
- water
7. Turmeric Honey Mask
Turmeric and it’s anti-inflammatory benefits [source] combined with honey’s bacteria-fighting properties [source] not only help remedy clogged skin but prevent blackheads from developing.
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
Stir honey and turmeric into a paste and then apply to areas of concern. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes or until you begin to feel tightness. Wash off with a warm washcloth.