Dental floss: discover its usefulness and instructions for use

Flossing is still largely unknown in France, even though it is highly effective. It is an essential complement to the toothbrush and should ideally be used by everyone, once a day.

Nutrident explains the benefits of dental floss, and how to use it properly.

Why is cleaning with a toothbrush not enough?

Tooth cleaning is essential to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid developing cavities or other infections. The toothbrush is an indispensable “tool”, but not sufficient.

In fact, dental plaque and food debris must be completely eradicated to prevent bacteria from attacking the teeth. However, the brush cannot reach every corner of the mouth, especially in the gaps between the teeth. This is especially true for people with tightly packed teeth: food debris gets stuck between the teeth, and even the pulsating jet can't dislodge it. Only flossing is effective.

What does flossing do?

Dental floss, also known as floss, is a very strong thread sold in spools. Passing it between the teeth helps dislodge food debris stuck between the teeth. It also helps to scrape the surface of the tooth and remove plaque before it turns into tartar.

Reservations about flossing

However, flossing should be used with caution, as you can injure your gums. Therefore, it should not be used by people with periodontal disease. It is not recommended (or even forbidden) for people with fragile gums. Ask your dentist for advice if you are concerned or if you have bleeding gums when using it.

How to choose your dental floss?

You can find dental floss spools in pharmacies, parapharmacy, supermarkets and online. The rates differ from one medium to another, but it never represents huge sums. There are several types.

Unwaxed dental floss

Unwaxed dental floss is made of twisted nylon strands. It slips easily between the teeth, but has a tendency to fray or even break.

Waxed dental floss

Waxed floss is the same as the previous one, but with a thin layer of wax that prevents it from fraying or breaking. The disadvantage is that it doesn't fit as well between clenched teeth.

Dental tape

Dental tape is a flatter, wider floss, waxed or unwaxed, that is more practical for people with wider spacing between their teeth.

PTFE dental floss made of polytetrafluoroethylene

PTFE – made from the same high-tech fabric as Gore-Tex – glides better and is more resistant to fraying and breaking.

The super floss

There are high-end dental flosses that have a rigid section on each end for a better grip. They are often used for people who wear braces or non-removable dentures that are complicated to clean.

How to use the dental floss?

Flossing is easy to use, it's just a matter of getting in the habit. Start by cutting a piece of about 50 centimeters, because you will use a section for each gap to clean.

For a good grip, wrap the wire around your index fingers, keeping the gap less than an inch. Don't leave more space available, otherwise you have less control over the path of the wire.

Gently slide the wire between two teeth. It should not abut against the gum, in order not to brutalize it. Once the wire is between the teeth, move back and forth horizontally against one of the teeth to scrape it and remove anything that may be stuck to its surface. Then scrape the other tooth. You should never make a vertical back and forth movement that will saw your gums.

When finished, move to the next gap, shifting the wire between your fingers to use a new, clean section.

Once you've gone around your jaw, rinse your mouth with water to remove any tiny residue that may remain.

Here is a video to better understand how to floss:

Should I floss before or after brushing my teeth?

It is a good idea to floss before and after brushing depending on the case. Generally, you brush and floss your teeth. However, especially for people with particularly crowded teeth, it may be more appropriate to use it before brushing, when food debris is stuck and the toothbrush alone will obviously not be able to dislodge it.

It's up to you to decide when the time is right for you.