How to use dental floss and not harm your teeth

Knowing how to use dental floss is necessary to prevent oral diseases and preserve gum health. At first glance, it seems that this is not difficult – you just need to place the fiber between your teeth, move it in different directions and get it back. But it's not that simple. Often people not only brush their teeth incorrectly, but also harm the enamel: they abruptly pull out the thread, clean different areas with the same interval, do not caress their mouth, and make other mistakes. In this article, you will learn which dental floss is better to use and how to do it without harming your health.

Why do I need dental floss?

Dental floss is a dental and medical instrument used to clean the interdental space. Its main purpose is to remove plaque and food residues from hard—to-reach places that an ordinary brush may not reach. There are different types: wax, non-wax, textile, multi- and single-stranded. The most common materials are nylon, Teflon and polyethylene.

If you do not know which dental floss to use, start from your own preferences. For example, polyethylene is a softer and more flexible material that is suitable for people with sensitive gums, Teflon ones are more dense and durable, and wax ones help sliding.

Flossing is an important procedure for maintaining oral hygiene, which helps prevent plaque formation, caries and gum disease. It is recommended to use it regularly no more than 1 time a day after an evening meal.

We use dental floss correctly

To maximize the cleaning effect and minimize the risk of injury, follow the instructions:

• Take a sufficient amount of thread, from 25 to 50 cm long;
• Wind the ends around the phalanges of the middle fingers, leaving a small segment between them. Make sure that the amount of fiber is sufficient for free operation;
• Stand in front of the mirror and open your mouth wide. Brush your teeth in a well-lit room so that you can see the entire oral cavity. Think in advance about the cleaning scheme;
• Carefully insert the fiber between the two teeth using your index fingers. Avoid sudden movements. The length of one cleansing area is 3-5 cm. Start with the lower teeth and move from the near to the far ones;
• Smoothly move the fiber up and down, wrapping around the side surfaces of each tooth;
• Use a new area to clean each tooth. Do not clean already contaminated – this will increase the risk of reproduction of pathogenic bacteria;
• Do not put pressure on the gums. The fibers should move between the teeth without injury and jamming;
• At the end, rinse your mouth with warm water or use a rinse solution, for example, with the effect of chamomile or oak bark to heal gums.

If it is inconvenient for you to floss your teeth with ordinary floss, try a flosser. This is another cleaning device in the form of a small handle, on which a small piece of nylon is already attached. Optimal for beginners.

Common errors

Pay attention to the mistakes that most people make when flossing for the first time:

• do not clean each tooth individually;
• reuse the contaminated area;
• used only to remove food particles;
• they press, pull out sharply, rub the walls of the teeth for a long time;
• ignore the distant teeth;
• do not use if there are braces – in this case, the system does not interfere in any way.

This procedure will help with a comprehensive and thorough cleaning of teeth. Too frequent use leads to mechanical damage and increased gum sensitivity.

A specialist will tell you more about which dental floss can be used in your case. A consultation with a dentist is recommended before the procedure.