Flossing is the process of cleaning between the teeth, and between the teeth and the gum using a thin filament called dental floss.

A dental floss is usually made of silk, nylon, or Teflon.

It is important to include flossing once a day in order to decrease the likelihood of cavities and gum disease.

It’s easy for food to get trapped in the gaps between your teeth, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria and plaque to develop. These hidden food particles get caught in the gaps between teeth where bacteria in our mouth breaks down the food to produce acid that is harmful for our teeth and gums as well. Unlike brushing, flossing can allow you to get into these gaps and remove the bacteria-causing debris.

Benefits of flossing:

• Helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth and along the gum line where your toothbrush can’t quite reach
• Better removal of bad breath-causing bacteria than brushing alone
• Removal of plaque from below the gumline, which can erode tooth enamel and develop into tartar (can cause teeth discoloration)
• Reduce the risk of cavities
• Reduces the likelihood of soreness, puffiness, and unsightly redness of the gums
• Helps prevent gingivitis, which can progress to periodontitis

When should you floss?

• At least once per day, preferably before bedtime
• Floss before brushing in order to ensure the loosened particles are cleaned away from the mouth

What kinds of floss are there?

• Waxed and un-waxed thread (most common types)
• Super floss (most beneficial to those with orthodontic braces, bridges, and wide gaps between teeth)
• Floss picks (convenient for traveling or flossing on the go)
• Air flossers (use air pressure to push out debris between the teeth)
• Water flosser (use water pressure to flush out debris between the teeth)

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to correct flossing technique:

Simple technique recommended by the Indian Dental association ; Start with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with. Hold the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and- down between your teeth.Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth using a seesaw motion, making sure you go beneath the gum-line. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue.

Curve the floss around the side of one tooth, forming a ‘C’ shape and rub the floss up and down to clean the tooth. Repeat the procedure in the opposite direction i.e. on the adjacent tooth. Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth.

By Rochelle Sequeira  Ward no. 16