The Best 7 Dental Flossing Tips That Everyone Should Know
Would you like to know the best dental flossing tips that everyone should know? Read on to learn everything that you need to know on the subject.
Do you want to know the best dental flossing tips that everyone should know?
Dental flossing is one of the most important aspects of maintaining good oral health. But it can be hard to find out which type of floss is best for your needs.
That's why we put together some helpful tips for you. You'll learn what types of dental flosses exist, what materials they're made from, how often you should use them, and more!
So read on and make a mental note of the best dental flossing tips that would make a
dentist in my area proud.
1. Pull the Floss Tightly
When you pull the floss out of its dispenser, make sure that you pull it tightly. Flossing is easiest when the floss is taut between your fingers as you slide it up and down against each tooth. In general, the tighter the better.
2. Loop It Around Your Fingers
Instead of holding onto both ends of the floss with equal pressure, loop one end of the floss around your index finger. This will give you better control over the floss when you guide it between each tooth.
3. Start on One Side of Your Mouth
When you're flossing, it's best to start on one side of your mouth. For example, start on the top or bottom rows of teeth and slowly pull the floss across until you reach the other side of your mouth.
Then stop and move over to the next row of teeth, and go back and forth like this until you've reached the last tooth. When you do this, you'll avoid having to wrap the floss around your fingers several times before you can complete one pass.
4. Don't Cut It Short
You might want to cut by floss into smaller pieces, but that's not actually the best thing for you. Cutting floss short can make it easier to hold between your fingers, but it can be very difficult to get a good grip on small pieces.
5. Use the Right Flossing Technique
You should also use an up-and-down motion when you're flossing, but make sure that this is an actual back-and-forth motion rather than a side-to-side one! If you don't floss properly, you could end up doing more harm than good.
6. Make Room for More Floss
Since it's difficult to be precise when flossing between your molars, try pushing the floss down against the outside of each tooth. This will give you a little extra room to move back and forth with your floss.
7. Use a Rotating Motion
For smaller spaces, such as between your teeth and around each tooth's curved surfaces, you should use a rotating motion to clean those spots with the floss. Just wrap the floss around those areas and then slide it back and forth like usual until they're nice and clean!
What Types of Dental Floss Exist?
There are two major types of floss that you can purchase in most stores.
The first is the traditional waxed, strong type that comes in a simple dispenser all wrapped up in one package. There is also unwaxed floss, which usually contains an ingredient called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to help it glide smoothly between your teeth.
This type of floss is usually more expensive, but some people believe that it works better since there is nothing to get in the way of its smooth gliding motion.
Another option is dental tape, which comes with a large sheet of plastic material with very thin fibers running lengthwise through it. It can be a little difficult to use at first, but some people find it better since the thin fibers can slip under food particles and debris more easily.
It's important to note that even though it says "tape" on the package, most dental tape comes from PTFE so there is no adhesive on either side like regular tape.
How Often Should You Floss?
Flossing is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth, but flossing too much can be harmful to your gums.
As a general rule, you should only floss between your teeth once a day. Ideally, floss before going to bed so that food particles don't get a chance to form a barrier between your teeth.
You can also floss more often if you have a lot of space in between your teeth, but otherwise once per day is best.
Do You Need a Special Flossing Method?
No, there's not really any special way that you need to floss besides holding the floss tightly between your hands and sliding it against each tooth in an up-and-down motion.
Make sure to get all sides of your teeth, even the sides that are hard to reach when you lay down. For example, you can use your hand to hold up and slightly bend your chin (so that you're looking up at the ceiling) and then use the floss to reach the areas of your mouth that would be normally impossible to reach.
Find a Dentist in My Area
Now that you know these flossing tips, you should be able to use them whenever you go flossing so that you can get the best results! If you have any other good tips for better dental hygiene, then make sure to share them in the comments section below.
For more tips on oral hygiene or to find a dentist in my area, contact us today!
Dr. Rohit Z Patel
D.D.S
After graduating at the top of his class, Dr. Patel continued his postgraduate studies in endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York. He was appointed to assistant clinical professor of dentistry at Columbia University and later moved on to teach at the Montefiore Medical Center’s Department of Dentistry. Westchester Magazine recognized Dr. Patel as a “Top Dentist for 2012.”
Dr. Yung Kim
D.D.S
Dr. Yung Kim is a double board certified Periodontist and board certified Prosthodontist, educated to treat many extremely complex disorders involving gum disease, tooth decay, and oral pathology. His focus is on full-mouth, complex, surgical, and reconstructive dentistry. He has extensive knowledge of implant dentistry and advanced surgical procedures, specializing in teeth in a day and All-on-Four implants. He is also Invisalign certified and experienced with CAD/CAM restorations and dentures.
Dr. Brendan Gallagher
D.D.S
Dr. Brendan Gallagher is dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and reliable surgical care while keeping communication clear and timely with referring offices. He values building strong partnerships with colleagues to ensure the very best care for patients. Outside of practice, Dr. Gallagher enjoys mentoring upcoming dentists through social media and podcasting. He also enjoys running, trying new craft beers and spending time with friends and family. You can find Dr. Gallagher at our Brewster, Tarrytown and Mount Vernon locations.
Dr. Santvana Vyas
D.D.S
Dr Vyas attended NYU College of Dentistry and earned DDS in 2016 at the top of her class. She was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the national dental honor society and earned Outstanding Achievement Award in study of Prosthodontics.
Dr Vyas is an active member of American College of Prosthodontics (ACP) and American Dental Association (ADA). She is appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU College of Dentistry. She is married and is blessed with two sons.
Dr. Gianna DeMase
D.D.S
Dr. DeMase received her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University where she double-majored in Biology and Spanish. She then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry where she graduated with honors in periodontics. After dental school, Dr. DeMase completed a General Practice Residency at Jacobi Medical Center, a level one trauma hospital. Here, she participated in community outreach in the women’s health clinic and taught medical students how to do oral exams. She also worked with special needs patients in Jacobi’s Rose F. Kennedy Center. Dr. DeMase remains committed to being active in the community.
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Dr. DeMase has experience in cavity restoration, endodontics, oral surgery, oral pathology, and prosthodontics including implant restorations.
She highly values patient education and always ensures your comfort and understanding of the treatment. She strongly believes in patient centered care and therefore tailors each treatment plan to you and your needs. As a member of the American Dental Association, Dr. DeMase is always aware of the latest studies and developments in the dental field and strives to apply them to her practice. In her spare time, she can usually be found with a book in her hands.
