Have you ever had food especially strings of meat stuck between your teeth and it made you really uncomfortable? I am certain that you have. For example, remember the ‘Owambe’ you attended about a month ago, when your friend’s sister’s cousin was getting married. The huge piece of meat that came with your beautifully garnished vegetable soup, you had to struggle with your fork and knife for a while before you finally decided that nobody was watching. The meat was devoured shortly after and you had to battle with the feeling of having food between your teeth.
You attempt to stylishly use your fingers to pick your teeth but it is not working, the meat is hell bent on staying. Frustration sets in and you just decide to pick your teeth properly when you leave. Needless to say, you did not enjoy the rest of your stay and you could not wait to leave. A flossing device solves this problem and more.
Dental floss is an interdental cleaning device. It removes food particles and substances stuck between the teeth and is an essential component of oral hygiene maintenance. There are various other types of interdental cleaning devices including floss picks, dental tape, super floss, conventional floss, electric flossers. They also exist in various functional designs.
Benefits
- Prevents gum disease by removing plaque and food debris
- Reduces risk of cavities
- Prevents bad breath (halitosis) resulting from retained food debris
- More effective when used together with toothbrushing than toothbrushing alone
- Some studies have also revealed that having good oral hygiene may contribute to reducing the risk of chronic heart disease.
When to floss
The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends that flossing be done before or after tooth brushing as long as it is done properly. Flossing of the teeth should be done once daily and the dental floss strands discarded after a single use. This is in order to prevent the deposit of bacteria from the previously used floss onto the gums and teeth.
How to Floss
Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand.
Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers.
Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.
Flossing when improperly done can cause more harm than good hence it has be done thoroughly and gently. The beauty of using the dental floss is in its proper usage as it forms an essential component of oral hygiene.
Photo credit: Dentist2day
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