We know that we are supposed to brush our teeth and floss them too, but many people often avoid the flossing part of an oral hygiene routine. However, flossing is an essential element for a healthy smile. When you regularly floss your teeth, you can clean away the plaque bacteria that infect gum tissue and produce tooth-decaying acids. Here are some tips and facts about flossing that can help you gain a healthier smile.
Tips
- You need to floss your teeth at least once a day.
- You will use about 18 inches of floss, wrapping most of it around one of your middle fingers and some of it around the other.
- Pinch about an inch of floss between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Gently rub the floss up between your teeth.
- When you reach the gum line, curve the floss into a C-shape and carefully rub up and down between your gum and tooth.
- Unwind some clean floss and continue to floss between the other teeth.
Facts
- Flossing cleans 40% of the surface of your teeth. A toothbrush cannot reach between your teeth like floss can.
- You may experience some bleeding when you first begin flossing; this is normal. After a week or two, the bleeding should stop.
- Flossing can prevent dental problems like tooth decay, bad breath, and periodontal disease.