Floss Your Teeth

Floss Your Teeth at least twice per day

The only thing more important for your mouth than brushing your teeth is to floss your teeth. In fact, we at Seattle Dentist Eastside Bellevue Dentist office feel that flossing is so importnat that if you are tired and only want to take time to either brush or floss, choose to floss. It is that important. Also, make sure you floss before you brush your teeth rather than brushing before you floss. Flossing cleans the surfaces between your teeth and below your gumline. When you floss first, the toothpaste has more access to the tooth surfaces between your teeth and thus a greater ability to clean your teeth and gums.

A lot of food debris gets stuck down in between your teeth and below your gum line. Just brushing your teeth will not be enough. You should also floss your teeth to get those food particles out. Otherwise, they will continue to collect, which will leave plaque on your teeth and gumline which could lead to gingival inflammation and periodontal disease. Here are a few ideas to help you floss your teeth properly:

Flossing technique

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
• Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
• Remember the back side of your last tooth needs to be flossed as well.
• If you use dental floss and it frays and breaks up before you’re done flossing, try using dental tape. You accomplish the same thing, but dental tape holds together better than floss when you are cleaning rough areas.

Flossing tips

• Set a regular pattern for flossing so that you don't miss any teeth.
• As with brushing, flossing should be done gently. Improper flossing can injure your gums.
• If you have not been flossing regularly, your gums may bleed and be sore for the first five or six days. As plaque is broken up and bacteria removed, your gums will heal and the bleeding will stop.
• By age eight, children should be able to floss their own teeth. To make it easier, use a loop of floss. Simply tie the ends of a 10-inch piece of floss, forming a circle. Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers, and use the technique above.
• A floss holder can make flossing easier for those who do not have good finger dexterity. Special picks and sticks are also available to help those who find floss difficult to work with. Consult your dentist about the best technique for you.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about flossing your teeth please call our Seattle Dentist Eastside Bellevue Dentist office at (425) 454-2005. We’ll be happy to help you in any way we can.