In order to get the best out of your floss, it’s important that you’re using the right type. There are two types of floss: unwaxed and waxed. Unwaxed floss is made from nylon and is typically used for those with sensitive teeth or gums, as it can cause less irritation. Waxed floss has a coating of wax on each strand, which makes it easier to slide between teeth and reduces friction.
There are also a variety of different thicknesses available, from extra-thin to ultra-thick. The thickness should be matched to the size of your teeth and gaps between them. For example, if you have narrow spaces between your teeth then a thin floss would be more appropriate than one that’s thicker and more difficult to manoeuvre around your mouth
Read on to learn more about How To Use Best Dental Floss, Polytetrafluorethylene Floss (PTFE) and How to Floss Like A Boss
How To Use Best Dental Floss
Dental floss is a thin string of waxed nylon or Teflon that you use to clean between your teeth to get rid of plaque and food particles. You can buy it in most supermarkets and drugstores, or you can make your own dental floss by braiding together three strands of unwaxed cotton thread.
How To Use Dental Floss
To use dental floss correctly, follow these steps:
1) Hold one end of the floss between your thumbs and forefingers, with about an inch of floss extending beyond your fingertips.
2) Wrap the other end around one tooth so that the floss passes over and under the sides of the tooth.
3) Slide the floss up and down against the side of the tooth until you feel it catch on some food particles. Then pull out gently until all the food particles are removed from between your teeth.
4) Repeat this process for each tooth until you have cleared away all food particles and plaque from between your teeth.
There are many different types of dental floss, but the most common are unwaxed and waxed. Unwaxed is made of nylon, which has been known to cause infections in people with sensitive gums or those with braces. Waxed is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is a plastic polymer and is safe for even the most sensitive gums.
Flossing is important because it helps your dentist get rid of plaque from between your teeth where they can’t reach with their instruments. This reduces gum disease and tooth decay by up to 75%.
Here are some tips on how to use best dental floss:
• Wet your fingers before flossing to make it easier to slide between your teeth;
• Hold onto the floss at both ends and guide it into your mouth;
• Start at the back of your mouth and wrap the floss around one tooth at a time;
• Pull gently on the floss while moving it up and down against each tooth;
• Repeat this process until you have gone through all of your teeth;
How to Use Best Dental Floss
Dental floss is a thin strand of waxed nylon that you use to clean between your teeth. It can remove food particles, plaque and bacteria. Flossing is an important part of your oral health and should be done once or twice a day.
First, unwrap the dental floss from its container and cut off about 18 inches (45 cm) of floss with a pair of scissors. Then wind the two ends around your middle fingers so that they form a U shape and your hands are in front of you with the thumbs in between the index fingers.
Next, place one end of the floss between your teeth at an angle towards the gum line where there are no fillings or crowns on either side of your tooth. Wrap one end of the floss around one tooth going down towards the gum line, then pull gently until you feel it catch on something like food or plaque that needs to be removed. Then continue wrapping until you’ve covered all sides of all teeth as far back as possible without hurting yourself or cutting through gums with sharp edges of teeth (which can cause bleeding). Make sure to floss each side equally so that both sides
The best dental floss is a tool that can help you keep your teeth clean and healthy. But using it correctly is important. The wrong technique can damage your gums or break the floss, which defeats the purpose of flossing.
The first step in using dental floss is to select the right type and size of floss for your mouth. The American Dental Association recommends choosing unwaxed floss, because it slides more easily between teeth.
When you’re ready to floss, put a small amount of water on the end of the floss, so it will slide into tight spaces more easily. Then wrap a few inches around one finger and guide it gently between two teeth. Use a gentle back-and-forth motion to remove plaque from both sides of each tooth and under the gum line where bacteria tend to hide out.
It’s also important to use the right technique when using braces or other appliances that hold food particles between teeth — these devices should be cleaned with special plastic picks instead of floss because they’re less likely to cause damage if used incorrectly
If you’ve been putting off flossing because it seems like an unpleasant task, you’re not alone. But the benefits of flossing are well worth the effort. Flossing prevents tooth decay, gum disease and even bad breath.
To get started, here are some tips on how to use dental floss:
Wrap a small amount of floss around your middle fingers and hold it taut between your thumbs. Guide the floss gently between your teeth using a gentle motion that moves toward the gums. If you find it difficult to reach all areas between your teeth, use a child-size piece of floss or try using an Oral B Glide Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Remover Kit with Floss Tip Tweezers as a guide to help you reach your back teeth more easily.
Afterwards, rinse out any remaining bits of food with water from your mouth. If you have leftover bits of food caught in between your teeth after flossing, try rinsing again with water and then brushing those spots with toothpaste before rinsing and spitting out again
Polytetrafluorethylene Floss (PTFE)
Polytetrafluorethylene is a material that most of us are familiar with in the form of Gore-Tex fabric. This material is very strong, so you won’t have to worry about it shredding while you’re using it. Its smooth construction makes it great for sliding easily into small gaps between crowded teeth.
While PTFE has some great benefits, it does have one major con. This is that its production requires the use of a known carcinogen, perfluorooctanoic acid. Carcinogens are known to comprise the immune system, so many dentists don’t recommend the extended use of this product.
Super Floss
Super floss is a specialty type of floss that is designed for those with bridges, braces, and wide teeth gaps. It has three main components. These are regular floss, spongy floss, and a stiff end threader. With the threader, the user can easily maneuver the floss under bridges and other dental fixtures for a thorough cleaning.
Due to the construction of super floss, it’s not the best option for those with small teeth gaps. The threader is very unlikely to weave through the gap to be any bit effective at removing loose debris from the teeth.
As you can see, there are many different dental flosses on the market that you can choose from. Understanding the pros and cons of each type can allow you to select the right floss to fit your dental needs.
Flossing tools
A Dance Craze For Your Teeth
Here’s how to know if you’re a kid that’s on trend or just a clueless parent like me. When you think of flossing do you think about dental hygiene or does your mind go directly to a dance move all your friends are doing? If you’re a parent and you don’t already know, this is what your kids are doing when you’re not around.
They’re dancing!
You might be wondering what a social media fad, or viral cultural phenomenon, has to do with teeth. The truth is, it doesn’t really have anything to do with teeth or with dental hygiene, that is, except that it’s called “the floss” dance.
And just like the internet dance phenomenon, actual flossing is all about technique and making the right moves. Now if only we adults could figure out a way to get our kids or even some of our fellow adults and colleagues to get equally as excited about flossing their teeth.
How to Floss Like A Boss
Flossing, like dancing, is all about establishing the right technique, followed by proper practice until it looks easy.
According to the American Dental Association, this is how you should teach your kids to floss and how you should be flossing your teeth.
Flossing, like dancing, is all about establishing the right technique, followed by proper practice until it looks easy.
According to the American Dental Association, this is how you should teach your kids to floss and how you should be flossing your teeth.
7 Flossing Tools for Healthier Teeth
Studies have shown that there isn’t a significant difference in plaque-removing ability between many of the leading flossing products on the market. What’s important is finding a product that works for you and encourages you to floss regularly. Whether you prefer to use waxed string floss, or flavored floss, or a water flosser, what matters is that you floss every day at least once a day and that you do so correctly.
1. Multifilament Woven String Floss
Not all string floss is created equal. There are a few different types that have their unique strengths and weaknesses. One of the most common is multifilament woven string floss. These are essentially tiny ropes made from woven strands of nylon fiber.
Multifilament woven floss is incredibly economical. A typical roll will cost well under a dollar. However, woven strings have certain drawbacks. After a few rubs, woven strings can fray or break leading to discomfort and inadequate plaque removal.
2. Shred-resistant Monofilament String Floss
Monofilament string floss is string floss that is composed of a single, monolithic, strand of material. This dramatically reduces the likelihood of fraying or breakage during flossing.
3. Waxed Floss
Some dental string flosses are coated with a layer of wax. This reduced friction in between teeth leads to improved comfort without compromising plaque removal effectiveness.
4. Dental Tape
Dental tape is another type of string floss. It is essentially a wide, flat ribbon of nylon that comes either waxed or unwaxed. Some people find this type to be grippier, stronger, and easier to slide in between teeth.
5. Water Flosser
Water flossers, such as Waterpik, utilize pressurized water to aid in cleaning around and in between teeth. Much like pressure washing the siding of a house, water flossers shoot a jet of water to remove dental plaque.
6. Alternative Electric Flossers
There are some other electric-powered flossing alternatives to water flossers. Some, such as the Phillips Sonicare AirFloss, directs a steady stream of pressurized air mixed with water vapor to produce the same plaque-removing effects of a water flosser but using much less liquid. Air flossers are also generally much more compact and less unwieldy compared to conventional water flossers.
7. Floss Pick
Flossing with traditional string floss can be somewhat difficult for many. As we all know, proper technique is crucial for common string floss to be effective. It can be quite awkward at times getting to the back teeth with regular string floss. However, with a floss pick, flossing is much easier. A floss pick is simply a small piece of string floss held in place by a plastic prong, like a slingshot. On one end of a floss pick is the string and prong, and on the other side is usually a sharp point, or pick, that can be used like a toothpick.
Remember, no matter what flossing aid or flosser you choose, the important thing is to floss and teach your family how to floss. It is one of three foundational oral hygiene habits that also include twice a day brushing and routine visits to Willow Pass Dental Care for dental checkups and teeth cleaning.
While certainly less trendy than the floss dance, dental flossing is a skill that will be far more useful and beneficial to oral health over a lifetime. So teach your kids how to floss correctly and help them build real, useful life skills.