Flossing Made Easy!

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

People who floss their teeth on a regular basis seem to perform the task effortlessly, most without looking in a mirror or feeling they’ve cut circulation to fingers! With the right technique and a few practice rounds, you can become a Floss Pro!

First, use about 18 inches of floss. Nylon floss is inexpensive but can shred between teeth with tight contact points. If this occurs, try the single filament floss (although higher-priced), which slides easily between teeth and is shred-resistant.

Use a mirror with good lighting so you can see the inside of your mouth. Now, wind the floss around the middle fingers of each hand with a couple of inches hanging loose to work with. Stretch the floss between your thumbs and index fingers and slide it in-between your teeth, curving the floss around the base of each tooth and beneath the gum line. Avoid popping floss between the teeth as this can cut tender gum tissue. Remove the floss using the same back-and-forth motion, moving it up and away from the teeth.

About every 3-4 teeth, loosen the floss from fingers and retighten to use clean sections. This also keeps your fingers from becoming uncomfortable.

Do this every night for one week. After seven nights, this should be easy enough to do in about half the time it took the first night. You may also find you no longer need the mirror!

What’s most important, however, is the tremendous advantage you’re having on your oral health! Flossing is a preventive health measure you’ll be glad you mastered!