Flossing is an easy chore. It doesn’t take very long to complete, and you won’t be burning many calories doing it. On top of all that, it is quite easy to master excellent flossing technique in very little time. The problem starts when we begin to slack off, and simply go through the motions, rather than spend the one to three minutes necessary to do the job fully. In case you need a refresher, here are a few tips:
– Floss at least once a day.
– Break off a piece of thread approximately 18 inches in length.
– Wrap each end of the floss around each middle finger until you only have an inch or two to work with.
– Gently slide the floss up-and-down between your teeth and avoiding pressing too hard when reaching the gumline.
– When you reach the gumline , gently curve the floss into a ‘c’ shape around the tooth, to go beneath the gumline.
– When moving to a new tooth, use the same gentle up-and-down motion to move away from your finished tooth.
– Each time you move to a new tooth, use a new section of the floss by adjusting the line using your middle finger.
– Remember to get between every tooth, as well as the backside of your last teeth.
Be sure to ask your dentist for recommendations on acceptable floss products, and don’t forget to brush twice daily.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Drs. Scott Timmons & Justin Gangestad at Baxter Dental, you can call us at 218-829-4207, or stop by our office in Baxter, Minnesota.