Here at Lovett Dental Humble, we love to be impressed by great flossing skills. But why not have a cheat sheet to help you surprise us on your next visit? At Lovett Dental Humble, we provide teeth cleaning and dental checkups as a part of our general dentistry services. However, it’s just as important to rock your daily dental hygiene between visits. This means not just brushing after every meal but flossing regularly to make sure there’s no build-up between teeth.
We can guide you through five flossing tips to get your teeth clean in between and send bacteria packing.
Flossing Daily
When you commit to flossing every day, you can quickly perfect your technique. Clients often notice that after flossing for a week straight, their gums stop bleeding. After two weeks, you get used to flossing, and your teeth won’t feel clean until you do it at least once a day. Just like brushing your teeth, flossing will become ingrained in your daily hygiene habits.
Use the Right Technique
Use the following tips during your flossing routine:
- For traditional dental floss, use 18 to 24 inches. Wind the floss around both middle fingers, leaving about two inches a floss to start with.
- Keep the string taut using the thumb and index finger on each hand.
- Place it between the teeth and glide up and down. If the floss forms a C shape, it can better clean the sides of your teeth.
- Avoid using force near the gums, so you don’t damage the tissue.
- Remember to get the back of the last molars.
Choose the Right Type of Floss
Choosing the right floss for your teeth can improve your oral care. There are many types of floss on the market. It’s essential to find one that works for you and makes flossing convenient.
Here are the different kinds of dental floss:
- Unwaxed Floss: This type works well if you can easily get the floss between each tooth. Typically, it’s thinner than unwaxed options.
- Waxed Floss: Most clients choose wax floss for their oral care. The wax coating makes it easier to get the floss between your teeth and move it up and down to remove plaque and debris.
- Floss Tape: Floss tape works well for individuals with gaps between their teeth and comes in waxed and unwaxed versions.
- Floss Picks: This type of floss has a small handle with floss held between two prongs. If you have problems getting floss between your teeth, this may be the best option for you.
- Floss Threader: Floss threaders work well for those with braces, bridges, and other dental appliances.
- Electric Water Flossers: These flossers use pressurized water to clean along the gumline in between teeth. If you have limited mobility, this can be an effective cleaning tool.
Use these flossing tips to choose the right type of floss for your teeth and other needs.
Snapping the Floss Hurts Your Gums
Avoid snapping the floss between the teeth. This can damage your teeth by wearing off the enamel. Don’t use that much force when you move the floss up and down your teeth to avoid gum damage.
Use Plenty of Floss
Don’t skimp on the floss. If you use short pieces, it will be harder to get in between your teeth properly. Try using at least 18 inches of floss so that you have plenty of room to work with and can get the job done easily.
Oral Health Care from Lovett Dental Humble
We hope these flossing tips help you take care of your teeth between annual checkups. At Lovett Dental Humble, we also provide cosmetic dentistry services and specialty dental services such as implants and sedation dentistry. Schedule an appointment by contacting us at 281-441-9000 today.