To keep your smile safe from any oral health care ailments that can arise, it is important to understand why dental floss is needed and how to use it effectively. Dental floss is an interdental cleaner designed to clean between teeth to remove plaque buildup that can lead to tooth decay, dental erosion, and gum disease. If left untreated, you can suffer severe oral ailments.
Cleaning between teeth is essential to ensure that plaque buildup and debris cannot hide. Brushing cannot clean between teeth, so you will need to use an interdental cleaner such as a threaded dental floss or a water flosser. For product recommendations and suggestions, contact your dentist. Furthermore, the American Dental Association awards products that are deemed safe and effective with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Look for the seal on products to ensure they will function effectively. Once you have your dental flossing product, always floss for at least 2 minutes per day.
If you decide to use a threaded floss, make sure it is long enough to be able to clean between each and every tooth. Ideally, you should have a strand that is roughly 18“ in length, so you can clean between teeth without having to use the same section of the strand more than once. To accomplish this, wrap an end of the floss around one finger on each hand to ensure a steady grip will allow you to move up and down the strand as needed. With this additional maneuverability, you will be able to clean between all your teeth. After you are done, throw out the strand, as you should never use the same strand more than once.
Restore your oral health to the top of the hall of shining smiles with interdental treatments. If you are in need of interdental treatments from our team at Clearpoint Dentistry at our dentist office in Houston, Texas, please contact us at 281-487-2400 to schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Lupy Gonzalez.