Are you flossing correctly? Are you flossing??

Proper Flossing

Gum disease begins at the gum line and between teeth.  Daily flossing is an important part of your oral health care routine to help remove the plaque from these areas where a toothbrush doesn’t completely reach.  To truly reap the benefits, you need to use proper flossing technique.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association explains the key elements of proper flossing technique in four simple steps:

1. Wind: Wind 18 inches of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a one- to two-inch length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
2. Guide: Keep a 1 to 2 inch length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between the teeth.
3. Glide: Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. DO NOT SNAP FLOSS BETWEEN YOUR TEETH. Contour floss around the side of the tooth like a "C".
4. Slide: Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.

This technique applies to any type of floss.  It doesn’t matter whether you start with your upper or lower teeth, or whether you start in the front or the back.  Just make sure that you floss all your teeth, including the back side of the very last tooth on the left, right, top and bottom of your mouth.  Don’t forget to floss under the gum line and along the sides of teeth that border any spaces where teeth are missing because food particles can become trapped in these spaces. 

Print this out for a handy reference to put on your mirror!

Using an Electric Flosser

The same basic flossing techniques apply if you choose an electric flosser.  Guide the floss gently into place and move the flosser back and forth to create a zigzag motion with the floss.  If you have trouble reaching the back sides of the back teeth, look for a flosser with angled handles that make it easier to reach those spots.

Flossing Around Dental Work

If you wear braces or other dental appliances, proper flossing is especially important to avoid getting floss caught on wires or brackets.  You can use special orthodontic floss, which has a stiff end that can be easily threaded under the wire on your braces or you can purchase a floss threader, which is a flexible device with a pick on one end and a loop on the other.  To use a floss threader, place an 18-inch piece of the floss through the loop.  Then insert the pointed end of the flosser under the wire and pull through so the floss is under the wire.  Once you have the floss in place, follow the same principles of proper flossing technique that you would use with standard floss.

Be Gentle

Poor flossing technique can result in complications, it's important to be thorough yet gentle, especially when flossing with an electric flosser.  Be sure you understand how to use it.  You can always ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you if you are uncertain.