Did you just get home from the dentist after they told you you should be flossing daily? So you turned to the internet, looking up how to floss?
Well, you have come to the right place! I consulted with two close friends of mine (both dental hygienists) to put together a great, easy to follow guide to flossing your teeth. Continue reading for step-by-step instructions and flossing tips:
[I didn't find this video very useful, but the girl is pretty and has beautiful white teeth.]
Benefits of Flossing Your Teeth
First, let’s go over a few benefits of flossing. If you know why you are flossing, you are much more likely to stick with it. Starting to floss is a lot easier than quitting smoking, but let’s face it, most people would skip flossing if it didn’t provide any benefits.
Flossing removes the bacteria hiding in places where your toothbrush can’t reach. Here is why you should floss:
- Remove bad-breath causing bacteria. (This means fresher breath, no mints required.)
- Lessen your chances of cavities. (Cavities usually form between teeth since it’s easier for bacteria to grow there.)
- Prevent plaque and tartar buildup. – (Flossing removes plaque before it can turn into tartar, which you can’t remove at home.)
Did I mention, all of those conditions where bacteria builds up between your teeth can lead to gum disease? Yeah, it can. And you don’t want gum disease! Believe me, daily flossing is A LOT more fun than gum disease or gingivitis!!
What You Need To Floss
You can’t just start flossing without any supplies. Obvious, right?
Here’s what you need:
1. A well-lit bathroom.
A well-lit bathroom and a mirror are very helpful when flossing, especially if you are just learning.
2. Dental floss.
The most important item you need is dental floss. I hated flossing when I was a kid because I didn’t know about anything other than cheap, unwaxed dental floss that was extremely uncomfortable to use and would shred apart in my mouth.
Luckily, those days are over! The floss of today is so nice and smooth that I actually enjoy the feeling of flossing my teeth.
What floss to buy?
Start by looking for mint waxed floss. This has a nice minty taste and is fairly smooth. But it’s not the best.
For just a little bit more money you can get what I call extra smooth floss. My personal favorite is Oral B Satin floss or Satin tape. (The difference between the “floss” and “tape” is negligible.) This stuff is easy to spot because it comes in a sparkly blue container.
The other great type of floss is Glide floss. This is another product from the Oral B family, so you can’t really go wrong.
Lastly, Wal-Mart’s private label brand Equate Super Slip floss is actually really good. It says “compare to Glide floss” on the label and I give it credit, it’s good stuff.
If you need floss today, you can grab some at virtually any drug store or department store. But I usually order my floss on Amazon.com because I can get it in bulk (2 and 4 packs) and save a little money.
How to Floss
Now we can get into the actual step-by-step flossing instructions.
You can watch the video, read the instructions, or do both.
1. Extract dental floss
Pull 12-18″ of dental floss out of the spool and cut it off using the built-in sharp edge.
2. Wrap floss around fingers
Wrap the floss around your middle fingers. Wrap most of the floss on one finger and just 2″ on the other finger. You want to be able to use the floss just like a VHS or miniDV tape being recorded.
3. Insert floss between teeth
Now grab a section of floss between your thumbs and index fingers. Put the floss in between two of your teeth.
4. The flossing motion
Now your finesse comes into play. Curve the floss into a “C” shape against the side of one tooth and, focusing on one tooth at a time, gently rub the floss up and down, keeping it pressed against that tooth.
Go slightly below the gum line, but be gentle. It’s a slow, smooth motion, not a fast and jerking one.
Now do the same motion for the adjacent tooth.
5. Repeat
Now you can repeat steps 3-4 for each tooth. Use a fresh section of floss each time, and don’t forget to floss behind your back teeth.
Tip: Use the same order each day so you get in a rhythm. For example, you could start on your left side of your top row of teeth, and work to the right. Then move on to the bottom row, starting on the right and working over to the far left again. Whatever method is easiest for you would be fine.
Flossing Made Easy!
Does flossing still sound like a pain in the butt? I’ll admit, some days I don’t feel like flossing, even though I enjoy it!
That’s why I like to have these little gadgets around. If I’m bored of flossing, I’ll grab one of these guys to help me out. Just the change in routine can be motivating.
First, consider getting a Flossaid dental floss holder. This little device holds the dental floss for you, making it much easier on your middle fingers.
For even more convenience, sometimes I use these DenTek floss picks. These are like “floss on a stick” – the floss is built in. So you don’t have to pull out a long strand of floss or wrap it around your fingers. You just take the pick and stick the end between each pair of teeth.
Finally, if you are prepared for it, this is the holy grail of flossing! It is called the Waterpik. It works like it sounds – it uses water to floss between your teeth! Yep, it’s like a mini pressure-washer for your mouth.
I never wanted to buy one because regular floss is much cheaper. But then I realized I was spending $75-150 every six months just for regular dental cleanings! So I figured the $49 for a Waterpik wasn’t so bad – and I don’t regret it at all.
The Waterpik is most useful for people with braces or anything else that may make it harder to floss normally, though. So a regular person with great teeth wouldn’t need one. But if you have trouble flossing due to your teeth, or maybe you have arthritis, the Waterpik is wonderful.
Summary
Just to remind you, flossing is a great way to clean teeth. Floss reaches areas that your toothbrush can’t, and that can prevent cavities, tartar buildup, and gum disease.
You can floss with regular floss between your fingers, floss held by a floss holder, floss picks, or with a Waterpik water flossing unit.
Dentists recommend flossing every single day!