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How to Floss Your Teeth Efficiently

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 Flossing is key to removing the remnants of food and plaque from between your teeth. If plaque and pieces of food aren’t dislodged, they can cause gum disease and cavities. Sadly, only 4 out of 10 Americans floss their teeth daily, while 20% never floss at all.      

More important than using dental floss is how you floss. If you are unsure about your flossing technique, here are some tips on flossing correctly.

Flossing: Steps to Follow

       Break off something between 18-24 inches of dental floss. Wind the ends of your floss to the ends of your middle fingers. One or two inches of floss should be used on your teeth.

       Next, hold the stretched floss between your thumb and index fingers.

       The dental floss should be placed between two teeth.

       Then, gently glide the floss up and down.

       Ensure not to glide it directly against the gum, as it could hurt your gums or cause bleeding.

       By the time the floss reaches the gum, curve it at the base of your tooth in a C shape. As a result, the floss will enter the space between the gum and your tooth.

       Repeat the process in other areas using fresh pieces of floss.

What If You Have Braces?

       When flossing with braces, make sure to stand in front of a mirror.

       Start by flossing the area between the teeth and the main wire.

       The ends of the floss should twist around your index finger for better mobility.

       When flossing your upper teeth, make an upside-down U shape with the floss. To do that, keep going up until you reach the gum.

       Then glide the floss down the side of your other tooth.

       Remove the floss, and unthread it gently from behind the wire.

       Don’t pop the floss right out, as you may dislodge a wire.

       Now, move to other areas, following the same techniques.

Final Word

If you are searching for a dentist, your search history might be filled with keywords like “dentist near me” or “black dentist near me.” Your search ends here. At Duhon Family Dentistry, we have got you covered. From dental extractions and dental hygiene advice, we offer it all. To benefit from our services, feel free to visit our website today.

Posted on Aug 28, 2023

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