Flossing is an essential part of dental care and a practice you should perform daily. It’s the only way to dislodge food and plaque stuck in hard-to-reach areas. Flossing doesn’t have to be difficult—following preferred teeth cleaning practices will ensure you address all your oral health needs.

Do:

Use the right technique.

The proper technique will make flossing much less difficult. Pull roughly 18 inches of string floss out. Wrap the ends around your index fingers and slowly wiggle the floss between your teeth. Form a C shape around the tooth and make circular motions to dislodge food around the gum line. Carefully draw the floss from between your teeth with a back and forth motion. Move to a clean section of floss and repeat it on the next tooth.

Explore alternatives.

If flossing is too cumbersome, try a dental pick. These disposable teeth cleaning products hold a single piece of floss at the end of a wand that’s easy to maneuver around your mouth. You can also try a water-jet flosser that blasts water between teeth, or an air flosser that works similarly, but with air.

These products are excellent for children, seniors, or those with arthritis and other conditions that make it difficult to handle traditional string floss.

Don’t:

Be too aggressive.

Be patient while flossing. It can take time to wiggle the string between your teeth. If you’re too aggressive pressing down or with back and forth motions, you could damage your gums or pull a cap or a filling free. You may also grind down enamel—the protective layer on each tooth.

Reuse floss or flossing products.

Whether you’re using string floss or a floss pick, never reuse the tool. You gather plaque, food particles, and countless decay-causing bacteria when your floss. Reusing string will reintroduce them to your mouth and undo many of the positives of flossing. Always have replacement floss handy. Keep a fresh roll in your car or tuck a few floss picks into your purse or schoolbag.

A professional teeth cleaning is an important part of dental care. Kennedy Dental Group in Anchorage, AK, welcomes patients of every age to their practice. Their team is backed by a combined 40 years of experience and handles both family and cosmetic dentistry needs. Call (907) 277-5684 to schedule a teeth cleaning or visit their website to learn more about their general dentistry services.