Proper Flossing

Daily flossing helps remove plaque build up and strengthens gums leading to healthier teeth overall. Flossing may also help prevent gum disease and cavities. Keep in mind that cleaning between your teeth should not be painful. If you do it too hard, you could damage the tissue between your teeth. If you’re too gentle, you might not be getting the food out. It’s normal to feel some discomfort when you first start, but don’t give up. With daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth, that discomfort should ease within a week or two. If your pain persists, talk to your dentist.

To ease the pain, here are some steps to help learn the right way to do floss.

5 Steps to a Flawless Floss

Step 1 is to break off 18 inches of floss. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.
 Step 2 is to hold the floss tightly. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
 Step 3 is to guide floss gently between teeth. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
 Step 4 is to curve the floss against one tooth to the gumline. Curve the floss into a C shape against one tooth, when the floss reaches the gum line, gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
 Step 5 is to repeat the process for all your teeth. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.

Once you’re finished, throw the floss away. A used piece of floss won’t be as effective and could leave bacteria behind in your mouth.

What Is The Best Time to Floss—Before or After Brushing?

A Spring 2015 MouthHealthy.org poll asked readers if they brush before or after they floss. The results were close: 53% said they brush before, while 47% said after.

So who’s right? Technically, everyone. The most important thing about cleaning between your teeth is to do it. As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn’t matter when. Pick a time of day when you can devote an extra couple of minutes to your dental care. People who are too tired at the end of the day may benefit from cleaning between their teeth first thing in the morning or after lunch. Others might like to go to bed with a clean mouth.

And don’t forget, children need to clean between their teeth too! Start as soon as your child has two teeth that touch. Because cleaning between teeth demands more manual dexterity than very young children have, children are not usually able to do a thorough job on their own until age 10 or 11.