You’re advised to use interdental brushes in addition to brushing as part of your daily oral health routine from the age of 12. Some people may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use an interdental brush, so flossing can be a useful alternative. Flossing is also useful for removing pieces of food that get stuck in your teeth which if left in the teeth can cause bacteria growth and could lead to gum disease.
The step by steps should serve as a useful guide to anyone wanting to try out flossing:
- Break off about 45cm of floss and wind some around 1 finger of each hand.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, with about 2.5cm of floss between them, leaving no slack.
- Use a gentle “rocking” motion to guide the floss between your teeth. Do not snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches your gum line, curve it into a C-shape against a 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.
- Do not 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.
Flossing back teeth
As everyone who brushes and flosses their teeth knows, your back teeth are harder to reach and to keep clean than your front teeth. The back teeth are designed with grooves and ridges that help you to chew food, but the downside is that these grooves and ridges can also collect tiny food particles, which can increase the risk of cavities and bacteria in plaque, which in turn can lead to gum disease.
Bacteria can convert fermenting carbohydrates (which are sugars and are found in cooked starchy foods) into plaque within 20 minutes. Be sure to clean around the back teeth with your toothbrush and dental floss every day.
Being gentle
Poor flossing techniques can result in complications, and it’s important to be thorough yet gentle, especially when flossing with an electric flosser. Be sure you understand how to use it. You can always ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you if you are uncertain.