Which is better for cleaning your teeth: floss picks, or regular dental floss? Or is there much of a difference? At Create A Smile Dentistry, your dentist in Bloomington IN, we always recommend either traditional dental floss, or dental tape.
While it’s better to floss with a floss pick than to not floss at all, it’s important to keep in mind that floss picks can only clean a part of the tooth’s surface.
A floss pick holds just a small length of floss stretched in a straight line. But a tooth is shaped somewhat round or oval, with occasional irregularities. A straight piece of floss just doesn’t make sense geometrically because it doesn’t conform to the contours of the tooth as well as traditional floss.
By wrapping the floss completely around the circumference of a tooth, you can do a much better job cleaning at, just below, the gumline. And your fingers are much more agile than a piece of plastic.
We have seen patients who are faithful floss pick users who developed decay due to a minuscule crack the floss pick missed day after day.
Here is a review on appropriate flossing:
- Cut a segment of floss about 18 inches long and securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
- Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with.
- Thread the floss between two teeth.
- Hold the floss firmly against the side of the tooth and move it up and away from the gumline. You want to clean the space between the tooth and gum without pulling more gum tissue away, so it’s vital to scrape up and out of the pocket.
- Move the floss around the tooth to clean every surface – especially those that your brush can’t reach. You can use a “shoeshine” method if you like. As you use a section of floss, unwind from one hand to access a clean piece. With 18 inches, you should have enough to deliver a clean length for each tooth. If you run out, that’s okay. Just toss the used piece and cut a new piece.
Some people find it more efficient to begin at one end of the upper teeth and clean each gap one by one until they reach the end on the opposite side, and then repeat for the lower arch. Whatever method you settle upon, make sure you get every tooth, including the back surfaces of the rear molars.
If you have never flossed before, your gums might bleed the first few times. The bleeding may be due to gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding commonly stops within a week or two.
At Create A Smile Dentistry in Bloomington IN, we urge you to make flossing a regular part of your daily teeth cleaning regimen. We practice general and cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening. Call today for an appointment.
