How To Floss Properly
Learn How to Floss With Castle Family Dentistry
Flossing is a key part of the tooth-cleaning process because it removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum line, where tooth decay and periodontal disease often begins. Plaque contains bacteria that feeds on leftover food and sugars in your mouth and releases an acid that eats away at the outer shell of your teeth, causing cavities or gum disease. At Castle Family Dentistry in Washington, NJ, we believe it is important to educate you on how to properly care for your teeth. You should brush and floss twice a day—see our tips for proper flossing below!
Tips For Proper Flossing
- Wind: Wind 18″ of floss around middle fingers of each hand.
- Guide: Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1″- 2″ length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
- Glide: Gently guide floss between teeth using a zig-zag motion. Be careful not to let the floss snap between teeth.
- Shape: Make a C shape around the tooth with the floss.
- Slide: Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and beneath the gum line. Make sure you floss the back of each tooth too. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.
If you have questions about flossing or find flossing difficult, contact our Washington, NJ dental office and we can help! Read our blog about the purpose of flossing.
