Flossing is one of the most essential parts of oral hygiene. It needs to be done everyday, and preferably before food debris has had much time to fuel the growth of oral bacteria. But it’s not enough to just rub floss in between the teeth. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, we provide comprehensive dental care to people of all ages, and as part of our preventive care efforts, we want to ensure our patients are flossing correctly.
The first step of proper flossing is to use a long enough strand. We recommend using fifteen inches, so that each end of the floss can be wrapped around the user’s middle fingers. The user can manipulate the floss using their index fingers and thumbs, and as they move from tooth to tooth, they can unspool the strand from one middle finger and wrap it around the other. This will prevent them from transferring food debris between teeth.
Flossing is meant to remove plaque from the teeth as well as food debris, so it’s necessary to rub the floss against the side of each tooth, and not just to clear space between them. Users should bend the strand into a c-shape and rub it along the tooth and slightly into the gingival margin. They shouldn’t go deep enough for this to be painful or cause bleeding, but they should be thorough. They’ll also need to get the backs of the back teeth. A person may experience some irritation if they already have a mild gum infection, but we can provide flossing during a regular deep cleaning and offer an in-person demonstration of proper technique for people who are still struggling.
Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.
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