You’re flossing. Great. But in order for dental floss to effectively
remove plaque from your teeth, you need to be sure you’re using the correct
technique.
Because you’ll be putting your fingers into your mouth, be sure to wash your
hands before you reach for
the floss. Then just follow these steps:
As long as you use the correct technique, the
type of floss you use is a
matter of personal preference. There are many
types to choose from, and you can
even choose a variety of types to meet
your needs and those of your family
members. Either way, using the correct
technique will help you remove the excess
food particles and plaque buildup
between your teeth and help improve your oral
health.
remove plaque from your teeth, you need to be sure you’re using the correct
technique.
Because you’ll be putting your fingers into your mouth, be sure to wash your
hands before you reach for
the floss. Then just follow these steps:
- Use enough floss. Break off a piece about 18 inches long.
That sounds like a lot, but you want enough to keep a clean segment in
place as
you move from tooth to tooth. Wrap most of the floss around either
the middle
finger or the index finger of one hand, whichever you prefer, and a small amount
onto the middle or index finger of the other hand.
(Using the middle finger
leaves your index finger free to maniuplate the
floss.) - Slide between teeth. Gently slide the floss between the
teeth in a zigzag motion and be careful not to let the floss snap or “pop”
between teeth. - Form a “C”. Make a C shape with the floss as you wrap it
around the tooth. Then carefully pull the floss upward from the gum line to
the
top of the tooth. - Roll along. As you move from one tooth to the next, unroll
a fresh section of floss from the finger of one hand while rolling the used
floss onto the finger of the other hand. Use your thumb as a
guide. - Reach both sides. Don’t forget to floss the back side of
each tooth.
As long as you use the correct technique, the
type of floss you use is a
matter of personal preference. There are many
types to choose from, and you can
even choose a variety of types to meet
your needs and those of your family
members. Either way, using the correct
technique will help you remove the excess
food particles and plaque buildup
between your teeth and help improve your oral
health.