Play Full VideoDr. Char, Dr. Mashimo, and our team encourage each of our patients to brush and floss every day. Individuals should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Unfortunately, there are many people who leave flossing out of their dental hygiene routine. Others do not know how to floss properly. Our dentists and team are thrilled to give you tips on proper flossing.
Before you begin, wash your hands with soap. This is especially important if you haven’t flossed in a while, as you may experience some bleeding and germs from your hands could infect your gums.
Start with about 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of the floss around each of your middle fingers, leaving one to two inches in between. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers and gently work it in between each tooth. Slide the floss gently up and down between each tooth.
Use the extra floss to change to a new section from time to time. The finger with less floss will take up floss as it becomes dirty. This prevents the transfer of bacteria from one place to another in your mouth. Make sure you go beneath the gum line by curving the floss in a C-shape around the bottom of each tooth. Never snap the floss into the gums, as this can damage the tissue.
If you brush your teeth before flossing, consider using a mouthwash afterward to remove the loosened bacteria from your mouth. If you floss before brushing, make sure that you brush well afterward.
To learn more about flossing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and to set up a visit, please contact Char Dental at 808-450-2155 today.