Often times, patients overlook flossing their teeth. However, it’s critical that you floss at least once per day – unless you really want to floss more, then go right ahead! Properly flossing will help to ensure that all of the food particles and bacteria are removed from between your teeth. How do you properly floss your teeth? We’ve got a step-by-step guide for you to follow next time you find yourself reaching for the floss. Just like the guidelines for brushing your teeth are important, flossing is no different.
Steps To Floss Properly
- Pull about 18 inches of floss out from your dispenser and wrap the ends around your middle fingers a few times.
- When you begin to floss your teeth, hold the middle piece of floss between your thumb and forefingers to maintain a good grip.
- Slowly guide the floss through the cracks between your teeth being careful not to “snap” your gum tissue with the floss or use too much force.
- After the floss is between your teeth, move it up to your gum line and then form a “C” shape with using both sides of the floss around the surrounding tooth.
- In this shape, move the floss up and down to remove any and all bacteria between and on the tooth.
- Repeat steps 3-5 in between all of your teeth, and don’t forget to floss behind your very last molars! The backs of those teeth don’t get as much attention as your other teeth usually, so you don’t want bacteria to build up back there.
