Information
about flossing
Q Why are my teeth
so important?
A Your
teeth vary in shape and size depending on their position
within your mouth. These differences allow the
teeth to do many different jobs. Teeth help us
to chew and digest food. They help us to talk,
and to pronounce different sounds clearly. Finally,
teeth help to give our face its shape. A healthy
smile can be a great asset and because this is so important,
it makes sense to give your teeth the best care possible.
Q How should I clean
between my teeth?
A One
way to clean between your teeth is with dental floss
or tape. Flossing removes plaque and food particles
from between your teeth and under the gumline, areas
a toothbrush can’t reach. Your dentist or hygienist
can show you proper flossing techniques.
The following suggestions
may help:
- 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 other hand. As
you use the floss, you will take up the used
section with this finger.
- Hold the floss tightly between
your thumb and forefingers, with about an inch
of floss between them, leaving no slack. Use
a gentle ‘rocking’ motion to guide
the floss between your teeth. Do not jerk
the floss or snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the
gumline, curve it into a C-shape against one
tooth until you feel resistance.
- Hold the floss against the
tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving
the floss away from the gum. Repeat on
the other side of the gap, along the side of
the next tooth
- Don’t forget the back
of your last tooth.
- When flossing, keep to a regular
pattern. Start at the top and work from
left to right, then move to the bottom and again
work from the left to right. This way you’re
less likely to miss any teeth.
It is also very important
to clean around the edges of any crowns, bridges or
implants. This can be difficult to do effectively
using traditional floss and there are now specialist
flosses to do the job thoroughly (such as super floss
and specialist floss threaders). Ask your dentist
or hygienist on how to use these properly and which
method you should use.
Q Should my gums
bleed when I floss?
A Your
gums may bleed or be sore for the first five or six
days that you floss. This should stop once the
plaque is broken up and the bacteria has gone. If
the bleeding does not stop, tell your dentist. It
may be that you are not flossing correctly or your
teeth and gums need a more thorough clean by your dentist
or hygienist.
Q What do I do if
I have difficulty using floss?
A If
you have trouble using floss you can use a floss holder
or an interdental cleaning aid. Interdental cleaning
aids include woodsticks or small interdental brushes
used to remove plaque from between the teeth. Your
dentist or hygienist can explain how to use these properly.
To download these
details in pdf form please click
here.
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