Most people know that daily brushing is essential to their dental health. However, some still neglect the importance of flossing. A survey conducted in consultation with the American Dental Association found that 44% of people admit to exaggerating how much they floss when asked by their dentist.

In reality, however, it was found that:

only a few people floss daily (16%)
most people only floss when there is food debris between their teeth (20%)
some people never floss (8%)

The common reasons why some choose not to floss: They don’t know why it’s needed. They don’t know how to do it properly.

This article will discuss why flossing before or after brushing is vital to help you stay on top of your oral health. More importantly, there is a step-by-step guide on how to floss safely and effectively.

The Importance of Flossing in Keeping Up Your Dental Hygiene

Imagine this: You just had a lovely dinner, eating your favorite meal with your loved ones. However, you feel some discomfort, finding something off with your mouth.

You checked the mirror and realized that leftovers have gotten stuck between your teeth. How do you get them out?

Many Americans use unusual items to remove food stuck between their teeth: pieces of paper, fingernails, cutlery, safety pins, and even strands of hair. This finding is from the same survey from the ADA that found adults exaggerating answers as to how frequent they floss.

Using those items for this purpose can hurt your teeth and gums and increase the spread of bacteria in your mouth. Thankfully, there is a safer and more effective tool for this problem: dental floss.

When you floss regularly, you can prevent gum disease, cavities, and other oral infections. Floss can clean hard-to-reach areas between your teeth and remove trapped food debris before they harden into plaque. Research studies cited by the National Institutes of Health mentioned those benefits as well, noting that flossing alongside brushing teeth reduces risk of gingivitis and plaque build-up compared to brushing alone.

How To Floss Properly in 7 Easy Steps

Now that you understand why it’s important to floss, your next move is to learn how to do it safely and effectively. Here’s how you can get started:

#1: Pick a time of day to include flossing in your daily routine.

The ADA recommends flossing at least once a day. You can choose to do this whenever it fits your schedule, as long as you make it part of your daily oral care routine.

Some choose to floss after brushing, while others prefer doing it before. However, flossing first is generally recommended because the floss will loosen the food debris stuck between your teeth. The brushing motions can then thoroughly remove the released particles from the mouth.

#2: Take about 18 inches of dental floss.

Eighteen inches gives you enough string to be able to use a new section for each space between your teeth, helping you avoid spreading food debris around as you use the floss.

#3: Break off the floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers.

The remaining dental floss can be wound around the same finger of your opposite hand. You can use this finger to take up the floss as it accumulates dirt from between your teeth.

#4: Grip the floss tightly between your fingers.

Use your thumb and forefinger to hold the dental floss so that you can grasp it more easily.

#5: Slip the floss between your teeth gently.

Don’t ever snap the floss into your gums. With a light touch, guide the floss between the space as far as it’ll go, making sure it reaches the gum line. Once this is done, use it to form a “c” shape and rub it against one tooth.

#6: Move the floss against the side of the tooth.

While holding the floss tightly, move it away from the gum, rubbing the side of the tooth with up and down motions. To fully dislodge food and plaque, use about 8 to 10 strokes between each tooth.

#7: When you’re done, discard the floss.

The ADA does not recommend using a floss strand more than once. Used floss loses its effectiveness. Worse, it actively deposits more bacteria into the mouth.

If you’ve tried these steps and are still finding it difficult or painful to floss, consult your dentist. They may recommend alternative options to string dental flosses, such as water flossers or interdental brushes.

Start Using Floss in Your Daily Oral Care!

Flossing can be challenging when you don’t know how to do it properly, but now that you have these helpful tips, it can be a breeze. Take charge of your dental hygiene by choosing extra-strong flossers and picks, such as the ones offered by PRO-SYS.

No matter how tight the spaces between your teeth, these flossers can get the job done without bringing you any pain or discomfort. Experience the difference that using quality floss can have on your teeth and gum health today!

The prevalence of periodontal diseases and gingivitis affects almost 20 to 50 percent of the population. The high incidence of such illnesses among youth, adults, and older citizens makes it a public health concern.

As a consequence, people are becoming more conscious of their dental hygiene. This, in turn, has fueled the demand for interdental cleaning products, including interdental brushes and dental floss.

In this article, we’ll take a look at interdental cleaning products, particularly, interdental brushes and dental floss. We’ll zero in on their differences and advantages to help you decide which of the two is more effective at cleaning your teeth.

What Is the Difference Between Interdental Brushes and Dental Floss?

Brushing does not completely clean your teeth surfaces. Therefore, adding an interdental care routine can ensure that your teeth are free of plaque buildup and food debris.

Interdental brushes help you clean the gaps in between your teeth. The bristles resemble a small mascara wand or a thinner toothbrush in appearance. Brushes come in various sizes and designs. There are also interdental brushes designed for people with orthodontic braces.

A dental floss is a 12 to 18-inch long thread. It is slid in the spaces between the gum and tooth or guided between teeth to extract bacteria, plaque, and food debris.

The use of either dental floss or an interdental brush is a personal choice. Both products contribute to reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. However, each has certain benefits that can influence your preference.

3 Top Advantages of Using Dental Floss

Regular flossing eliminates plaque that leads to cavities, tartar, gingivitis, and periodontal diseases. Here are more benefits of the hygienic practice:

Reduces tooth decay and prevents gum disease

Pairing your toothbrush routine with floss promotes healthy gums and teeth. It ensures the removal of plaque and bacteria that lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Allows you to examine your teeth regularly

Dental flossing gives you the chance to examine your mouth for any swelling or redness. You can thus check if your mouth displays symptoms of certain illnesses.

Promotes good dental hygiene

Brushing your teeth in the middle of the day is not always convenient. Flossing can be an alternative though. Because of its small profile, a dental floss is lightweight, portable, and easy to store; it allows you to improve your dental hygiene on-the-go, whether you are at work or school.

Despite these benefits, dental floss has its limitations. It can only be effective on flatter areas of the teeth. Also, frequent and vigorous flossing can result in gum irritation and swelling. Hence, other interdental cleaning products should be explored to maintain the cleanliness of teeth gaps.

4 Reasons Why You Should Use Interdental Brushes

A lot of people use floss to clean their teeth. Meanwhile, an interdental brush can be a simple yet convenient option. It can be used regularly and can be more advantageous to use than dental floss.

Here are some more reasons why you should invest in using interdental brushes:

Interdental brushes lower interdental plaque scores compared to brushing alone.

The small brush head of this product can penetrate and clean teeth gaps making it more effective than brushing. Interdental brushes are also useful in preventing interproximal bleeding.

Interdental brushes are simple to use.

You can use interdental brushes with one hand. Just like a toothbrush, an interdental brush is reusable.

Everyone can use interdental brushes.

The market for interdental brushes is extensive. It includes the following:

People with gaps between teeth – It can be challenging to floss if you have wide spaces in between your teeth. Interdental brushes are more effective in scraping plaque and food particles in this case.
People with braces – Flossing is not possible for individuals with fixed braces since it can get caught between the bracket and archwire. However, with an interdental brush, it can clear plaque and food debris from between teeth and around the edges.
People who don’t like floss – Believe it or not, many people dislike the habit of flossing. For some, the practice can be a challenge. Guiding the thread through tooth spaces may be difficult for some individuals. Interdental brushes, however, simplifies everything.

Interdental brushes promote thorough oral hygiene.

Aside from extracting food remains and plaque, interdental brushes also prevent cavities and bacteria. The brush head is built to allow easy access between spaces and grooves. What’s more, it accomplishes this while preventing gum injuries.

Use the Right Interdental Cleaner

Both interdental brushes and dental floss are undeniably beneficial to your oral health. However, each differs when it comes to convenience.

Using an interdental brush is a good alternative if you don’t like flossing. The bottom line is that it is vital to practice interdental cleaning to prevent you from oral and dental diseases.

PRO-SYS offers you a variety of solutions. We have an array of interdental brushes in different sizes and shapes. We also have products designed for people with braces. Shop now at PRO-SYS!

How To Floss: A Step-by-Step Guide on Flossing Properly Before or After Brushing