In the modern world, a beautiful smile is not a gift of nature, but the efforts of man himself. If a few decades ago, even, white teeth were a sign of only good genetics, today this gift is available to everyone. It is important only to properly take care of the oral cavity, regularly visit your dentist for preventive purposes and choose modern means of caries prevention. One of these is dental floss, or floss. It remains only to understand what it is, how often to use dental floss, whether its use is justified at all.
What is dental floss?
The habit of brushing teeth is instilled in a child in early childhood with the advent of the first tooth. However, not every adult brushes his teeth strictly twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime. The use of dental floss is also called into question.
Moreover, not everyone knows what it is, not to mention how to use flossing properly. But this is not just an ordinary sewing thread with which you can brush your teeth. Dental floss, or floss, is a specially developed product for the care of the oral cavity and for cleaning the interdental spaces from plaque.
Frequency of use of dental floss
Dentists insist on regular use: it is better every night before bedtime. However, if this is not possible, then for prevention, use the floss twice a week, at least.
Often disputes arise when you need to use dental floss - before brushing your teeth or after? Dentists and users themselves have not come to a consensus. Before cleaning, use the thread or after - you decide. The only consensus is that regular use of floss is the best prevention of tooth decay.
The rationale for flossing
Modern medicine has taken a big step forward. Including in dentistry. For high-quality dental hygiene, many tools and methods have been developed today. Cleaning alone is not enough. After all, a toothbrush cleans only the surface of the tooth.
The interdental space with particles of food, plaque and bacteria, which later lead to caries, is beyond her power. This is where the floss helps. Without the use of a thread in the interdental space, plaque, bacteria accumulate, enamel is oxidized, which leads to caries. Daily use of floss significantly reduces the risk of tooth loss, stone development and various diseases of the oral cavity. You just need to choose the right one.
Floss Varieties
A variety of floss species makes it possible to choose the most suitable one for you, based on the individual structural features of the oral cavity, the presence of implants or crowns, etc. After all, in order to prevent caries, it is important not only to have it, but also to know how to use dental floss.
- The round shape is suitable for people with a wide interdental space. A person with tightly set teeth will need a flat one.
- There are threads containing various impregnations and drugs for additional disinfection and aromatization of the oral cavity.
- Waxed and non- waxed threads suggest a different level of interdental cleaning. Waxed glides easier, but cleans worse. Not waxed works better, but is not suitable for those who have just started using it.
- The division has a place to be in composition. Natural - from silk and synthetic - from nylon and teflon. Natural thread is more pleasant to use, but it breaks faster. Preference today is more often given to synthetic nylon threads.
The dental industry is very developed today. There are quite a few floss producers. Such as: ICEDENT, Splat, Oral-B and others. Each manufacturer gives not only a detailed description of their product in terms of parameters such as floss quality, structure, thickness, but also offers instructions on how to use dental floss. Oral-B, for example, even draws a diagram of the correct application.
Rules for Using Dental Floss
In order not to damage the gums, you need to know some nuances. Moreover, there are a number of recommendations on how to use dental floss, to do it effectively and safely:
- First you need to measure 40-50 cm of thread and wind on the middle fingers, so that about 10 cm remains. It is with this part that you need to clean your teeth from plaque.
- The procedure must be carried out with up-and-down movements from one tooth to another.
- For more thorough cleaning, you can wrap the thread around the tooth and clean it in a circular motion. The thread needs a little wind up behind the gum. But you need to be extremely careful not to hurt her.
- Clean each tooth with a clean piece of floss, preventing the “dirty” gap from entering another part of the oral cavity. This is necessary to avoid the spread of bacteria from not quite a healthy tooth to the rest.
- It is possible to clean the interdental space only with smooth movements up and down.
- It may not work out right away. But you need to be patient and do everything at a slow pace, as carefully as possible. After a while, everything will happen automatically, as when brushing your teeth.
- Always use fresh thread and discard waste. The thread used is a breeding ground for bacteria and pathogenic flora.
- Always combine flossing and brushing procedures. Do not break the rules described in the instructions for a particular product that regulate how to use dental floss. The health of teeth and gums depends on this. At the end of cleaning, it would be nice to use a disinfectant rinse aid.
Contraindications
Before using floss, a dentist consultation is necessary. Despite all the advantages of using it, there are cases when dental floss is contraindicated. If there are problems with the gums, such as bleeding or periodontal disease, then you can not use the floss. You can aggravate the condition of the gums and even lose a tooth. Also in case there are implants, crowns or veneers. Only a dentist will give competent advice on hygiene in each case.
Using flossstick and flossets
For those who find the use of dental floss difficult and not very convenient, invented devices that facilitate the cleaning procedure. You can apply them in the same way as using dental floss. If flossing seems time consuming, then you can use the flosset. This device resembles a toothbrush, but with a thread instead of bristles. The procedure becomes much more convenient, but the pleasure is not cheap. Every time a thread ends in it, you need to throw out the whole set.
Another device - flosstik - a special frame made of plastic with nylon thread. It is also intended for more convenient cleaning of the interdental space. But with the help of flosstik cleansing is not so effective, and sometimes traumatic. The choice is very large and remains only for the consumer. The main thing is taking care of your beautiful smile and health.
Is dental floss really needed, how is it presented?
Toothbrush rid the surface of teeth from food debris. Also, the brush will also remove plaque. But the interdental space, as already mentioned, is not accessible to the brush. After all, even the thinnest bristles are not able to penetrate between the teeth. Toothpicks can harm both enamel and gums and, in general, are not recommended for use.
But the remnants of food, plaque and bacteria are all seedlings for the formation of tartar, the development of carious cavities, and high acidity. Ultimately, the entire oral cavity suffers. But this can lead to more serious problems with the digestive organs and the gastrointestinal tract. Obviously, the only solution is the full range of hygiene procedures. Daily brushing, flossing and rinse aid.
The floss in this chain is an essential element that cannot be missed. You just need to understand how often you need to use dental floss, take into account the individual characteristics of the teeth, the presence of braces or implants, the sensitivity of the gums. Based on all this, the dentist will help you choose the right dental floss based on the specific situation. And only a doctor can give the right advice on how to use dental floss (Oral, for example). After all, the main thing here is to maintain dental health for many years, and indeed the entire oral cavity.