- Flossing is an important procedure to clean the gaps between teeth that the toothbrush isn’t able to reach.
- Oral hygiene has several crucial procedures which include brushing and flossing.
- Dental floss is a thin cord made up of nylon filament.
- It is used to clean food debris and plaque stuck between the teeth.
- Flossing can prevent various gum diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis, etc.
- It is rightly said that food debris is an open invitation for bacteria to make their ground. To prevent such an outcome, flossing must be taken seriously during the cleaning of teeth.
- Brushing and flossing are two key procedures to maintain oral health. They are also important to prevent oral cavities.
- Lodged food leads to bad breath therefore it is necessary to clean it. Flossing techniques thoroughly clean the gaps between teeth and helps to produce fresh and pleasant breath.
Read More: What is Orthodontics? The Process of Straightening Teeth from Orthodontics
Tools Used For Flossing :
1. Interdental Brush
- Interdental brushes also called interproximal brushes are used to clean spaces between teeth, braces, bridges, implants, etc.
- They are available in various sizes, forms, shapes, etc. according to their use.
- They come in a cylindrical shape and are smaller than a normal toothbrush and are very easy to use.
- They are color-coded along with different sizes :
- Pink – 0.4 mm
- Orange – 0.45 mm
- Red – 0.5 mm
- Blue – 0.5 mm
- Yellow – 0.7 mm
- Green – 0.8 mm
- Violet – 1.1 mm
- Black – 1.5 mm
They are of various shapes like :
- conical/pine shaped: It is used for orthodontic appliances and implants.
- StraightCylindrical
- Thin
- Ultrathin
Floss should be used without applying any force. It is supposed to be inserted between the spaces of teeth. The motion used is “in and out”.
It should be done once daily without the use of a toothbrush.
Types Of Floss :
1. Waxed floss :
- It is made up of nylon material, a thread-like structure coated with a waxed layer, making it stronger and unbreakable.
- Easy to use and can be moved smoothly between the teeth smoothly. It is a bit thicker than other flossing materials, making it harder to reach thinner gaps and spaces.
2. Unwaxed floss :
- Commonly used floss which is also made up of nylon material.
- It can easily be channeled in small spaces as it is thinner in structure.
- It is more prone to breaking.
- Unwaxed floss is usually used in crowded teeth.
3. Dental tape :
- It is thicker and used in people with bigger gaps.
4. Poly tetra fluoroethylene floss :
- It is very strong and can smoothly glide between gaps of crowded teeth.
5. Super floss :
- It is mostly recommended in patients with bridges, implants, braces, etc.
- It is made up of regular floss, spongy floss, and stiff end threader making it is easier to use under a bridge.
- It can effectively remove food debris from dental appliances.
How To Floss Your Teeth :
- Take about 18-20 inches of dental floss and wrap it around your index finger and thumb. Leave about 1 to 2 inches of floss for using it between the teeth.
- Hold the floss firmly with your fingers and gently move it between the teeth in an “up and down” motion. Rub the floss around both sides of the teeth so that all the lodged food can be removed. Do not move the floss into the gums as it may cause injury.
- Repeat the same steps for all the teeth.
- Clean floss must be used for every use.
- Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash together build unbreakable protection for the mouth.
If you have any problem related to gums or teeth, please visit Pathak Dental clinic
Find the clinic here: Get direction
Address: 11/11 Akurdi Chikhli Road, Near Dwarka Collection, Kasturi market, Sambhaji Nagar, Thermax Chowk, Below Nutan Jewellers, Chinchwad, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411019
