Many people never learned to floss as children. But flossing is critical to healthy gums and it’s never too late to start. A common rule of thumb says that any new habit becomes second nature after only three weeks. If you have any questions, ask your dentist or your dental hygienist at Number 18 Dental to show you what is the best way to floss.
How to floss your teeth?
Here are a few general pointers about flossing:
Floss once a day
Most dentists recommend flossing at least once a day. If you tend to get food trapped between teeth, you can floss more often.
Take your time. Don’t rush
Choose your own time. Most people find that just before bed is an ideal time to floss. But it’s best to find the time that’s most convenient for you. That way, you are more likely to floss regularly.
Don’t skimp on the floss
Use as much floss as you need to clean both sides of every tooth with a fresh section. In fact, you may need to floss one tooth several times (using fresh sections of floss) to remove all the food. Some professionals think that reusing sections of floss may move bacteria from one tooth to another.
Choose the type that works best for you. There are many types of floss: waxed and unwaxed, flavoured and unflavoured, ribbon and thread. Try a few before you settle on one to use every day. Waxed floss works better for people with very closely spaced teeth. Tougher, shred-resistant varieties of floss work well for people with rough tooth edges.
