The battle against tooth decay and gum disease is won daily by brushing several times a day and flossing at least once a day. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends flossing at least once each day, using an ADA approved dental floss, so that you as the consumer knows it has been rigorously tested and proven to be both safe and effective.
A toothbrush can only clean the tops and sides of teeth, it isn’t capable of reaching between the teeth to clear oral debris–including the sticky film of plaque–stuck in the crevices between teeth. Dental floss removes those bits of food particles and plaque that lead to dental caries and gingivitis in between your pearly whites and along the gum line. When flossing, it is important to be thorough. Spend enough time at least once a day to do the job like a pro. It doesn’t matter when you floss–before or after brushing, when you go to bed or when you wake up–but that you spend enough time to be thorough when you do floss.
To Begin:
No. 1. Select a floss that works for you. There are two types of floss strings available on the market, Single filament (monofilament) floss does not shred while using but is slightly more expensive. Nylon multifilament floss comes in waxed or unwaxed form, and may shred while using.
No. 2 Unwind around 18 inches of floss from your dispenser.
No. 3 Wrap the amount of floss you have unwound around each of your middle fingers, with about an inch or so that you will be working at a time.
No. 4 Keep the floss taut between your thumbs and your index fingers and work it gently between your teeth in an up-and-down movement.
No. 5 Slide gently in a U or C-curved shape around the base of each tooth, including below the gum line.
No. 6 Gently move back and forth and up and down against the sides of each tooth.
No. 7 Make sure to use clean sections of floss every time you move to a new tooth.
No. 8 To remove loosened debris, rinse well with water or mouthwash.
Taking a few extra minutes each day to thoroughly floss your teeth will keep your smile healthy and bright. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kamy Noruzi or have any questions, please call our caring team at Fox River Periodontics at 630-232-7400 today!