Flossing, are you doing it right? Or at all?

It comes to no surprise that good oral health is directly related to brushing and flossing. Yet a survey by the American Dental Association (ADA) showed that only 40% of Americans floss daily. This is a bit shocking considering the amount of research that has been done about the benefits of flossing. A major benefit from flossing is that it removes plaque and bacteria in between teeth and by the gum that are missed with a toothbrush. By not flossing, you put yourself at risk to cavities and gum disease.

For those who do floss regularly, and for the ones that don’t but should start doing it, there are couple things to keep in mind to make sure you’re flossing the right way.

  • Pull about 18-24 inches (or forearm length) of floss from the dispenser.
  • Wrap it around each middle finger and use your thumbs and index fingers to slide it up and down between your teeth.
  • Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making a C-shape.
  • Make sure to floss beneath the gum line but never snap or force the floss.
  • Use clean sections of the floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

 

Here’s a video from one of our hygienists, Ania, showing ‘The right way to floss’ your teeth.

Please, feel free to check our blog page or our website for more information.