404-633-1853Flossing is a necessary part of dental health. Floss reaches the places between your teeth where a toothbrush can’t. Flossing gets rid of the plaque there and prevents cavities and gum disease. If you floss your teeth, kudos to you! However, are you flossing correctly? There is a right and a wrong way to floss; here is what you need to do.
Floss Length
You should break off about 18 inches of floss for your use. When you floss, there should only be an inch of space between your fingers’ hold on it.
Floss Hold
Wrap floss around both of your middle fingers. You will hold the line of floss tightly between your forefingers and thumbs.
Floss Technique
- Slide the floss between your teeth with gentle, rubbing movements (do not snap it up against the gum line).
- When you reach the gum line, curve the floss into a C-shape and gently slide it into the space between your gum and tooth
- Rub the floss against the tooth and away from the gum, going up and down. Repeat on the adjacent tooth.
Floss Tips
- Floss at least once a day.
- Wash your hands before and after flossing.
- If the floss gets frayed or dirty, unwind a clean length from one of your fingers while taking up the slack on the other.
- Don’t forget to floss the space behind your last tooth.