{"id":135,"date":"2018-04-01T20:12:07","date_gmt":"2018-04-01T20:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/?p=135"},"modified":"2018-05-01T20:16:47","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T20:16:47","slug":"dentist-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/dentist-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Fail at Flossing! A Dentist Explains the Best Technique"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-136\" src=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/image-2018-05-01-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"Piece of floss between front teeth\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/image-2018-05-01-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/image-2018-05-01.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>It seems that there\u2019s a right way and a wrong way to do everything in life. From baking a cake to parallel parking, some instruction beforehand is always a good idea. The way you floss is no exception!<\/p>\n<p>As a dentist, we see a lot of patients who are frustrated because their teeth and gums aren\u2019t as healthy as they\u2019d like, despite the fact that they\u2019re flossing regularly. In this blog, we\u2019ll focus on the best <em>way<\/em> to floss, because we want our patients to get all the benefits they can from their efforts. So keep reading to learn about what flossing can do for you, how to do it, and the best type of floss to use!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>How Can Flossing Benefit You?<\/h2>\n<p>Flossing benefits your oral health in three main ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fewer Cavities<\/strong> \u2013 The area where your teeth touch together is called the contact point. Floss is the only thing that can fit in between this space and remove the plaque that causes cavities. In fact, dentists find cavities in this area so often that they\u2019re sometimes referred to as \u201cflossing cavities,\u201d although a more suitable name would be \u201cnot-flossing cavities!\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Healthier Gums<\/strong> \u2013 All the way around each tooth is what\u2019s called a \u201cpocket\u201d where plaque and bacteria can hide. In healthy gums, these pockets are between 1-3mm. Even with good brushing, you can miss the bacteria in these areas if you\u2019re not flossing well, which can lead to gum disease and eventual tooth loss.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fresher Breath<\/strong> \u2013 Brushing only removes about 2\/3 of the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. Effective flossing will remove the other 1\/3 and give you much fresher breath!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What\u2019s the Best Way To Floss?<\/h2>\n<p>Try this technique at home and don\u2019t hesitate to ask for a demonstration from your dentist at your next <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">checkup:<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take about 18 inches of floss and wrap one end around the index finger of your non-dominant hand.<\/li>\n<li>Then, using the thumbs and index fingers of both hands, work with a small piece at a time, between 1-2 inches.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll want to use a back-and-forth, or seesaw motion, to get the floss past the contact point where the teeth touch. This avoids \u201csnapping\u201d the floss, which not only hurts but can injure the gum tissue.<\/li>\n<li>Once you\u2019ve gotten past the contact point and have reached the gums, stop using the back-and-forth motion. Wrap the floss around the tooth in a C shape, and gently move it under the gumline in an up-and-down motion.<\/li>\n<li>Move to a new, clean piece of floss to avoid transferring bacteria between different areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What Kind of Floss Should You Use?<\/h2>\n<p>This is largely a matter of personal preference, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, waxed floss won\u2019t shred as easily and many people find it easier to use.<\/p>\n<p>Second, there are some very slick, smooth types of floss designed for very tight teeth. If you have to use this kind, by all means, do it! But if you can, try to use a floss that\u2019s either sticky (like waxed) or has a slightly rough texture. It will remove more plaque than the super-smooth kind.<\/p>\n<p>With these flossing tips and techniques, you\u2019ll be on your way to a healthier smile in no time!<\/p>\n<h2>About the Author<\/h2>\n<p>All of the dentists at Flenniken Family Dentistry want to see their patients be as successful as possible with their home hygiene routine. They know that great brushing and flossing can prevent the need for extensive dental work down the road, so they always take the time to teach great technique. If you have any questions, they can be reached through their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flennikendental.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or at (717) 249-7777.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It seems that there\u2019s a right way and a wrong way to do everything in life. From baking a cake to parallel parking, some instruction beforehand is always a good idea. The way you floss is no exception! As a dentist, we see a lot of patients who are frustrated because their teeth and gums [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Don\u2019t Fail at Flossing! A Dentist Explains the Best Technique<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re putting in the time each day to floss, you may as well get all the benefit that you can from it! 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