How to use floss (dental floss)

Mom teaches us to brush our teeth in the morning from early childhood, but not everyone is engaged in oral hygiene even before bedtime, what can we say about the use of dental floss. It is much more habitual to take a toothpick and after each meal to try to clean up the teeth with its help. Aesthetics and health culture is made up of many little things. Dental flossa, the so-called flossy, are becoming increasingly popular with people trying to minimize dental problems.

What is dental floss for?

Do not think only that as a dental floss you can take a piece of ordinary thread for sewing. Modern science does not stand still; one of its latest inventions is a dental floss, which is called a floss and is intended for the hygiene of molar teeth.It will help to get rid of the main pathology - caries, which affects more than half of adults and many children.

With the help of a toothbrush, you can only clean the external surfaces of the tooth, but it cannot reach the interdental area. The teeth are very tightly in contact with each other, so no bristles, no matter how thin they are, will not be able to thoroughly clean and remove the remaining contact surfaces from food debris. And the food that lingers between the teeth, not only creates an unpleasant smell in the mouth, but also, rotting, forms an excellent environment for harmful microorganisms.

Types of dental floss

Dental floss have many varieties, each person can choose the most appropriate option, it all depends on the width of the distance between the teeth, the presence of prostheses, tactile sensations and just personal preferences. Prevention of caries does not depend at all on what thread you use, the main thing is to use it. How flossy are subdivided:

1. Dental filaments are round, they are designed for those who have wide gaps between their teeth, or flat, for people with very tight contact between adjacent teeth.
2. In the impregnating composition of the thread may contain therapeutic or prophylactic substances - fluoride or chlorhexidine. Sometimes components that create a pleasant aroma are added to add aesthetic enjoyment to the cleaning procedure.
3. There are waxed and not waxed floss. The first ones are smoother, it is easier to slide between the teeth, it is acceptable for beginners to gradually learn how to use the threads without damaging the gums. Unwaxed waxes clean the gaps between teeth more intensively and effectively eliminate plaque and harmful bacteria. Gradually, you need to move from waxed to such threads.
4. Natural silk or synthetic fibers such as nylon or teflon are used as the main material for dental floss. All-natural is better, but the silk thread wears out faster and breaks. Synthetic threads are more expensive, but they last longer. The most popular are nylon floss, because of the price-quality ratio.

How often to use dental floss

You can use dental floss as needed, but experts advise you to use floss prophylactically daily before bedtime or at least twice a week.Only with its help you can effectively get rid of plaque.

Opinions differ on what to do first, brush your teeth with a brush, and then flossing, or vice versa. Some people believe that the thread can put bacteria under the gum, others think that after the thread it is easier to carry out final dental hygiene. In one all agree - the use of floss is very useful.

Remember! Hands should be washed before using the dental floss. Do not buy floss yourself without consulting a dentist, especially if you have braces or dentures installed.

How to properly use dental floss

To effectively clean the teeth of plaque and prevent microbes from getting under the gum, it is necessary to properly use dental floss. Familiarize yourself with important rules that will help you avoid tooth decay and periodontal disease. Follow the procedures in the following order:

1. Prepare 40-50 cm of floss, winding the required length from the coil, wind the thread around the middle fingers so that between them 5-10 cm of thread are formed, with which you will brush your teeth.
2. Holding the dental floss firmly with your thumb and forefinger, gently move it up and down between two teeth, repeating these movements several times.Gradually move from one tooth to another, while moving the thread to a clean area.
3. Then you can wind the thread around the base of one tooth so that it goes a little bit under the gum. Cleaning a tooth, while you can perform circular movements. Do not make any sudden efforts, otherwise you can injure the soft tissues of the gums. Here we need special care and slowness.
4. Remember that for each new tooth it is necessary to use clean areas of the floss, otherwise you will spread the bacteria between healthy and not very clean teeth.
5. To remove the dental floss from the space between the teeth you need smooth movements forward and backward. Naturally, you will not do without a mirror at first.
6. Do not worry that you will not be able to learn how to apply the floss, you just start and you quickly adapt. Further procedures will be performed automatically.
7. Never use the second time used thread, otherwise the whole process of purification completely loses its meaning.
8. At the end of the use of floss it would be nice to brush your teeth with a toothbrush, you can connect for additional disinfection and mouth rinse.

Contraindications for the use of dental floss

Some medical observations show that sometimes improper use of dental floss can lead to inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, and sometimes unexpected loss of teeth. All this happens for one reason only - non-compliance with the technique of cleaning teeth with floss. Constant touching of the gums with the thread causes them to become sensitive, soft tissue is disturbed, then infections easily penetrate the accessible environment.

Carefully ensure that the gums do not bleed after using dental floss, this may be due to periodontal disease. In this case, you must immediately contact your dentist. The use of floss and with large carious disorders, with the appearance of cavities is not recommended. In such a situation, the thread can only aggravate the picture, introducing additional damage.

It is not recommended to use dental floss to young children under ten years old, and even after this age this procedure can be performed only under the supervision of adults.

If you understand everything perfectly, do not wait and do not hesitate, take care of the condition of your teeth.The procedure of cleaning with a dental floss is not complicated and rather effective. After all, a snow-white smile is not only an element of a charming image, but also an indicator of a person’s good health.

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