Do your gums bleed every time you go to the dentist? Does it always feel like a trick question when we ask “do you floss?” If you’re tired of going through the same old song and dance every six months (during your regularly-scheduled check-ups, we hope!) we have just the thing for you: a complete guide to learning how to floss like a boss.
Step 1: Define Why You Floss
How can we ever expect to be motivated to floss if we don’t know WHY we’re doing it? Without a good reason, we realize it can seem tedious. The good news is that there are plenty of good reasons! Here are a few:
- Flossing can remove the type(s) of plaque that cause periodontal disease
- It’s a great way to keep your smile fresh and kissable before a date 😉
- You’ll finally be able to look your dentist in the eye and not lie through your teeth (haha) when they ask if you floss!
Step 2: Determine When to Do It
Always floss before you brush your teeth to dislodge any debris or plaque from in between your teeth. Then go in with the brush to clean everything away. And make sure to do it at least once a day.
Step 3: Practice Proper Flossing Form
- First, break off a piece of floss and wrap the ends around your middle fingers, leaving around 2 inches of floss between them.
- Gently move it up and down between your teeth, making sure to scrape the lateral surfaces of each tooth.
- When you reach your gum line, wrap it around one tooth to form a C shape and then move it back and forth. Repeat for the tooth on the other side.
- Repeat the steps above for all of your teeth.
Helpful Hint: Make sure to use clean, dry, unused lengths of floss for each tooth. The wetter it gets, the less effective it is for scraping the debris away.
Whether you’re doing it to keep your mouth healthy or so you can have that moment of triumph the next time your dentist asks if you’ve been flossing, we hope you refer to the steps above to make sure you’re flossing like a boss! For more information on technique or to schedule an appointment, give us a call.
