How to Floss Properly!

Is there more to flossing than just running a strand of waxed thread between your teeth? At Purity Dental, we are strong advocates of flossing regularly to maintain good oral health but it’s even more important that you floss correctly! Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when flossing your teeth:

Floss every day!

While brushing your teeth helps get rid of any plaque, it doesn’t reach between your teeth. Between your teeth is where bacteria tends to breed most, giving way to the development of most cavities and gum disease. This is why it is important to not just brush butto also floss each day to clean between your teeth.

Use a floss pick sparingly

A floss pick is a more appropriate solution for children as they are quite easy to handle and ideal for a quick go-to. However, since using a floss pick means you’ll have to repeatedly use the same section of floss, this could just redistribute bacteria to different areas of your mouth.

Slide it under your gumline

Be careful when flossing around your gums to avoid bruising. Ideally, as the floss reaches your gum, you should curve it snugly around the base of your tooth to form a C shape. This will allow the floss to easily slide under, to the space between your gums and teeth.

Avoid flossing straight down

As we mentioned earlier, you need to be careful when flossing around your gums. Avoid snapping the floss straight down your teeth and this will damage your gum tissue, especially your “papilla” (the soft point of your gums between your teeth that extend upward).

Expect some soreness

If you don’t regularly floss, you’re likely to experience some soreness. Your first few times might even trigger some bleeding. If your soreness doesn’t improve after 10-14 days, we recommend running it by our dentist.  

If you have dental work done such as dental implants or bridges that make flossing more complicated, feel free to ask our dentists during your next checkup for more tips on how to floss around!