Flossing 101: How Much Do YOU Know About Dental Floss?

If you do not currently floss each and every day…you need to START!  What are you waiting for? Tooth decay? Bad breath? Have a  little more motivation to begin now?  Well, you’re in the right place!

Here’s all you need to know about flossing:

What is dental floss made of?

The majority of floss on the market today is made from melted down plastic beads that are then squeezed like toothpaste into long, thin strands of floss. Wax and flavoring is also added to make the procedure more pleasant.

Why should I floss?

To remove food, plaque, and bacteria that gets stuck between your teeth. Acidic food can actually break down your enamel, so even more of a reason to keep the spaces between your teeth clean! Flossing helps prevent tooth decay, gingivitis, and bad breath.

Will it hurt my gums?

If you are just starting to floss, your gums may bleed – this is why it is so important to floss everyday. Then eventually your gums will get healthier and be a nice, light pink vs. puffy and red. Proper flossing leads to happy and healthy gums!

What are the types of floss I can buy at the store?

Regular – this is the type of floss that has been around forever…it comes in a plastic container, rolled up. You break a piece off of the roll each time you floss.

Floss Picks – these make it much easier to floss, so they are especially perfect for beginners! You only need one hand to hold the pick, unlike two with regular floss. The only drawback is that they do not reach all of the angles as well as regular floss, so this is something to consider. The most important thing though is that you are flossing, so give yourself a pat on the back for that!

Oral Irrigators – dental water jets that use a stream of pulsating water to help push food, plaque, and bacteria out from between the teeth.

You can find all of these at your local drugstore. Call your dental clinic for more information and next time you get a dental cleaning, the dental assistant will be able to show you how to properly floss. You could also check out videos on YouTube!