Learning how to floss correctly will help removes  plaque  and food particles in places where your toothbrush cannot easily reach — under the gumline and in between your teeth. Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is not just highly recommended, it is a necessity.

In order to experience the full health benefits of flossing daily, our team at Reimels Family & Cosmetic Dentistry recommends following these techniques:

• Tear off about 18 inches of floss to work with, winding most of it around your fingers so that you only have about 2 inches to floss with at a time
• Hold the floss tightly so that there is no slack in your dental floss, then slide it gently and carefully up-and-down in between each of your teeth
• Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline, and follow the natural shape of each of your teeth. If you ever feel like you are having to force the floss around your gum line, stop and only go as far as feels comfortable. You do not want to tear or damage your gums accidentally.
• Use clean sections of floss as you move between each tooth! You do not want to spread any of the plaque or food particles you have just removed from a previous space.

We also have some insight into the age-old question for you – should you floss before you brush or after? If you asked any one of our team members, you just might get a different answer on this one! Before you report them for not knowing their stuff, each response can be right! As long as you’re doing a thorough job, we don’t care when you floss!

The Case for Flossing Before Brushing

Theoretically, flossing first dislodges the gunk between your teeth, letting the fluoride in your toothpaste reach those crevices better. Also, behavioral scientists say since most people don’t like to floss, it’s better to get the least-pleasant half of your dental routine out of the way first – you’ll be less likely to skip it. Once you have a minty, fresh mouth from brushing, you might be less inclined to feel the need to floss afterward.

The Case for Flossing After Brushing

Some say flossing last is better because it clears your mouth from extra food and debris that could otherwise be carried by the floss into the very spaces you’re trying to clean out. Plus, it might be more pleasant to put those flossing hands into a clean mouth versus an unbrushed one.

Floss when it works for you. But make it a habit! Choose the same time every day, floss once a day, and floss thoroughly. And don’t forget to use the right flossing method: for each new set of teeth, use a new section of floss, and hug each side of the tooth by dragging the floss upward in the shape of a “C.” Want us to show you how? Just ask for help at your next visit! You can quickly make an appointment with our easy, online scheduler HERE.