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Sure, you brush your teeth every day, but what about the other half of your dental regime? Flossing is an essential part of dental care; however, a recent study has shown that only 30% of people floss daily, and 32% do not floss at all. We want to change those numbers with this simple guide! 

We will show you how to floss your teeth and answer some other questions along the way. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Floss 

First things first, let’s get into why flossing needs to be apart of your daily routine. Flossing helps to remove food particles that are stuck between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot get. If your teeth do not get flossed, then the food can accumulate bacteria, leading to plaque. 

Plaque can become problematic as it builds up in your mouth. It can cause issues from cavities to tooth decay and more. Flossing also helps reduce Gingivitis’s chances, which is a disease of the gums that can cause complications down the line. 

When You Should Floss

As we said, flossing helps to loosen the food debris between your teeth, so considering that you are eating each day you will want to make sure you are flossing as well! It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once. It is better to floss first and then follow up by brushing your teeth. 

If you are only going to floss once per day, consider making it a part of your nightly routine after eating your last meal of the day. 

Types of Floss

Not all floss is created equally! There are a wide variety of brands and types of floss available on the market.

The first type of floss is called Dental Tape. This type of floss is flat and ribbon-like in appearance. This floss’s broad design makes it easy to use and ideal for people with larger spaces between their teeth and those with braces.

Standard Floss is the more common type of floss on the market. It is made from nylon and is much thinner than Dental Tape. This type of floss has various options such as flavored floss and waxed and unwaxed options.

Waxed Floss is a better choice for anyone with tight or crowded teeth. Standard Floss is not always the best choice for anyone with braces though. 

Finally, Super Floss is a type of floss that is heavy-duty. It is ideal for people with dental work such as fixed bridges or braces because its design has three components. There is a stiffened end, a sponge-like section, and then regular floss. This type of floss can clean the gums and braces with ease.

Other Flossing Equipment 

Toothpicks with a flossing attachment are another option for flossing. They are equipped with a toothpick on one end and then a small line of floss secured by two plastic pieces at the other end. They are ideal for reaching teeth far back in the mouth, and they are convenient for on-the-go flossing after a meal. 

Water flossing tools are another option for a deeper clean. This type of flosser uses pressurized water to eliminate plaque and food debris from the teeth and gum line.  

How to Floss Your Teeth

So you know the tools that you will need, and when you need to do it, now let’s talk about how to do it! Here are the steps:

  1. Spool off around 18 inches of the dental floss of your liking.
  2. Wrap the floss around your middle fingers until only around 2 inches is left between them.
  3. While firmly holding the floss with your index finger and thumb, start to gently move the floss in a C-Shape up and around each tooth avoiding flossing the gum in a back and forth motion.
  4. Repeat the process on all of your teeth, using a clean section of floss each time.

When you reach your gum line, you should be gently working the floss between the delicate area between your tooth and gum. Avoid using any sawing motions as you could damage your gums. Once you have finished flossing, either brush your teeth or use an antibacterial mouthwash. 

Always make sure to floss your teeth in front of a mirror. This will help you better visualize the area you are flossing, which could help prevent any injury to your teeth or gums.

Pro-tip

When it comes to buying floss, you should do your best not to skimp on the floss’ quality. Cheaper flosses are made with lower quality materials, and they could easily fray. When the floss frays, it can get stuck in between your teeth and cause injury to your gum, so save yourself the trouble and buy a reputable brand.

When to Visit a Dentist

If you are new to flossing, you will most likely see a little blood when you first start getting into a new routine. This can be due to any number of things, from vitamin deficiency to Anemia; however, more often than not, it is due to the fact that you have a mild build-up of plaque or mild Gingivitis.

Aggressive or incorrect flossing can also cause bleeding, so make sure you follow this guide! The more you floss, the healthier your mouth will become, and the bleeding should stop. With that being said, if you have excessive or prolonged bleeding, it could be a sign of a more serious health issue like Periodontal Disease, which would require immediate attention from your dentist

Keeping Your Mouth Healthy

Now that you know how to floss your teeth, you can be on your way to a happier and healthier smile! This simple guide will help you find the right floss and utilize the right technique with ease. 

Good overall health starts in your mouth! Our team is here to help you achieve optimum dental health, from helping you get back your pearly smile to managing routine check-ups. Visit us today to get your next appointment on the books!

Flossing Teeth

Do your children love eating sweets? Did their last visit to the dentist indicate early signs of tooth decay? Then you need to take their dental health more seriously. 

Though tooth decay in children is more common among the nation’s poorest families, it doesn’t mean that kids from well-off families are safe. Without proper dental care, tooth decay can develop in any child, regardless of his family’s socio-economic status. 

And apart from brushing, you should start teaching your children how to floss. But what if flossing teeth is something that your kids hate? Is there a way to develop your kids’ love for flossing? 

Continue reading below as we teach you nine effective ways to make flossing more enjoyable and exciting for your children.

How to Make Flossing Teeth Fun for Your Child

1. Flossing Teeth Early

There is a saying that a child’s mind is like a sponge. It will easily absorb anything and everything that you teach. Thus, you need to introduce flossing early to your kids. 

Starting them young comes with many benefits. But aside from these advantages, introducing them early to flossing will help establish the foundations for a lifelong habit. 

But when is the earliest time to floss your kids’ teeth? As soon as they reach 2 or 2 ½ years old, you may examine their teeth if they are ready for flossing. If you see two of their teeth touching, then you can start them with flossing. 

Generally, a toddler’s last two molars are the ones that will likely touch together. That becomes an area that their toothbrush can no longer reach. 

The younger you start, the more they will find flossing enjoyable as they grow more teeth.

2. Use the Egg Carton Mouth

Another way of making flossing exciting is through demonstration. But not with your teeth; instead, use an egg carton mouth. 

Take one of your empty egg cartons and prepare some playdough, white paint, and dental floss. Paint the entire carton white and fold it in half. You want to arrange it in the shape of your top and bottom teeth.

Take some of the playdough and fill up the spaces in-between the teeth. Take some of the floss and guide your child in flossing the teeth to remove the clay. Make sure to explain what the clay represents and why you need to remove them.

3. Turn it Into a Game

If you don’t have an egg carton at home, turn floss time into game time. You can play some make-believe where your kids can be superheroes fighting off bad guys. This time around, the bad guys are the cavities.

Tell them that by flossing, they are fighting off those evil cavities that are out to destroy their teeth.

4. Join Them

Though cavity protection is a personal matter, it doesn’t mean you couldn’t make it a family affair. Bring the excitement level up by flossing together with your kids. 

One of the secrets to developing the habit among kids is letting them see their parents floss. By joining them, they will learn the proper way of flossing teeth. Moreover, you can correct their mistakes early.

And much like riding a bike, flossing together helps make the task more engaging.

5. Let Them Choose

Since you want to make flossing more engaging, involve your kids further by letting them choose the dental floss. There are many types of flosses for kids. They come in colorful containers, as well as styles and flavors.

There are also water flossers and floss sticks that come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they even come with the kids’ favorite superheroes and cartoon characters.

If your children are old enough to pick, take them to the grocery and let them choose their floss. 

6. Turn Up the Volume

Since children love singing songs, play some of their favorite tunes while flossing. Go to YouTube and search for flossing songs that you and your kids can dance to. Go for fast and upbeat songs that will keep the excitement level high.

At the end of your flossing session, make sure to celebrate by shouting “hooray!”

7.  Establish a Reward System

If you’re struggling to convince your kids to floss, introduce a reward system for motivation. Start by showering them with praises every time they finish flossing. Thereafter, you can give them a treat like reading their favorite bedtime story. 

You may also buy some stickers, which you can give as a reward. To make things more interesting, give your rewards every week. This will motivate your kids to floss throughout the week in exchange for a prize.

The prize can be a book, a small toy, or anything that will encourage your children to continue the habit.

8. Encourage Them

Speaking of encouragement, cheer on your kids as they go through the flossing motion. Shower them with words of encouragement especially when they’re struggling.

If they are wearing braces, increase your encouragement. Flossing with braces is tougher than you think, so you need to give all the support your kids need. After every session, praise them for a job well done.

Tell them how clean and shiny their teeth are.

9. Try Some Apps

Last but not least, you may download some dental apps. Some apps like “brushDJ” play music that encourages brushing and flossing. There are others like “Toothsavers” that tell stories that aim to give kids incentives if they brush and floss. 

You may also try “Chomper Chums” that make brushing and flossing a game. The app gives your kids digital coins that they earn from brushing and flossing. In turn, they can use these digital coins to buy food for the app’s different animal pets.

Protect Your Child’s Teeth, Today!

Aside from avoiding some of the most common tooth brushing mistakes, flossing teeth boosts your children’s battle against cavities. And to complete your kids’ dental hygiene, they need to visit the dentist at least twice a year.

If you’re searching for a family dentist you can trust, our practice will be more than happy to take care of your children’s teeth. Connect with us today and request an appointment. Let’s keep those cavities at bay through our quality family dentistry.