5 Important Tips for Flossing [Oral Hygiene Tips]

Flossing is an important part of oral hygiene and should be taken seriously. It is vital for lowering the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and infections of the oral cavity. Flossing also helps to keep teeth looking healthy and mitigates bad breath. Therefore, be careful to floss correctly to get the benefits of the process.

Tips for flossing

Flossing helps to remove debris from areas of the teeth that may be inaccessible to a toothbrush. The following are tips to improve your flossing routine:

1. Get quality and suitable floss

To ensure thorough cleaning, it is advisable to get a quality floss that is suitable for the person’s dentition. The basic rule is to get one with the American Dental Association seal of approval. Individuals with tightly spaced teeth should get thinner floss, while those with large gaps between their teeth should consider thicker floss. People with limited dexterity should try a flossing pick.

2. Floss daily

Generally for good oral hygiene, it is important to floss once every 24 hours. It is advisable to floss every night before bedtime, but if someone's schedule works better for mornings, then that is good too. Flossing before bedtime is preferable because it prevents the harmful bacteria that feast on food debris from wreaking havoc during sleep.

3. Be gentle with the process

Many people make the mistake of sliding the floss in between two teeth and moving the floss aggressively on the gums. Avoid snapping the floss onto the gums. Instead, it is better to carefully guide the floss onto the gums and rub gently in a back and forth motion. Repeat the process twice or thrice.

Sawing aggressively can not only harm the gums but is also ineffective for removing debris that may be trapped on the sides of the teeth. Start by cutting off 18 inches of dental floss. Wrap most of the floss around the finger on one hand and the rest around the finger of the other hand. Hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefingers. Then wrap the floss gently around the base of a tooth into a ‘C’ shape.

4. Avoid reusing

Not every material is reusable, such as dental floss. Reusing floss reintroduces bacteria and debris that were cleaned previously. It is advisable to use a fresh strip of floss when flossing. Also, unwind fresh floss when moving to the rest of the teeth.

5. Stay consistent

If the process is done thoroughly, it does not matter whether flossing is done before or after brushing. The crucial thing is to do it. It is somewhat effective to floss after brushing because the floss can get rid of debris missed by the toothbrush. If handling floss is difficult, an interdental cleaner can be a practical choice. Options include dental pick, a water flosser, pre-threaded flosser, brushes with tiny bristles and wooden or silicone wedge plaque cleaner.

Final note

Flossing is an important part of oral hygiene and should be taken seriously to prevent oral health diseases. By taking note of the five tips listed above, your flossing routine should be more effective.

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