Floss your way to healthy gums and teeth!

Plaque and food debris caught between the teeth can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Dental floss is the best way to remove bacterial plaque and food from between your teeth or your child's teeth. It goes to places where your toothbrush bristles cannot reach. Remember, it is the teeth your need to floss, not the space. The floss must be in contact with tooth surfaces to do the job.

How do I use dental floss?

• Use a piece of floss that is about 18 inches. The best way to measure is to make sure it reaches at least to your elbow from the package before you break it off.
• Wrap the floss around your middle fingers on each hand.
• Grasp the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers and guide it gently and on an angle between the teeth. Holding it tightly will prevent “snapping” the floss onto the gums.
• Once through the contact of the teeth, ease off on the tension, wrap the floss in a “C” shape around one of the tooth surfaces and gently move it up and down the tooth surface. It is important to slip it gently under the edge of the gum to reach the hidden plaque but do not use force. Then move to the remaining tooth surface and repeat.
• Unwind floss from the finger on one hand and wind onto the finger on the other hand to use a fresh and clean piece of floss.

Things to remember:

Flossing takes practice! At first your gums may bleed. After a few days of regular and careful flossing, the health of your gums will improve and the bleeding will stop. If you do not floss regularly, your gums may bleed every time. Success is in a regular daily routine of flossing to disturb the harmful bacteria that causes the bleeding.

If, however, bleeding is excessive or it continues for more than one week, see your dental hygienist. Sometimes a simple change in technique will be all that is needed to perfect your flossing. Your dental hygienist or dentist can also examine you for other potential problems that may be cause bleeding.

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