How to choose and floss? - medical advice

A toothbrush and toothpaste are not enough for good oral hygiene. Teeth have 5 surfaces, the brush effectively cleans 3 – front, lingual, chewing. The other 2 (the neck area, the interdental spaces) should be cleaned from plaque and food debris, with the help of additional hygienic means – dental floss (floss) or interdental brush. And if in case of dense interdental spaces, the effectiveness of a toothbrush is questionable, the usefulness of properly selected floss is obvious. But many people don’t even know how to floss properly.

What is dental floss

Floss is a special floss made of silk or polymer fiber, for quality cleaning of spaces between incisors, canines, premolars, molars. It helps to extract food particles similar to a toothpick, but much safer and more effective. The fiber structure of dental floss gives the opportunity to gently, gently remove deposits from the enamel, not allowing bacteria to multiply, destroying hard tissue. Floss is placed between the teeth, cleaning first one and then the other side of the tooth row. It is important to know how to floss properly, otherwise you will get the opposite effect instead of benefits.

floss

When to floss

There are different recommendations on how to floss. Some experts believe that it is more effective to use it before hygienic brushing, while others believe that floss is more effective after brushing with toothpaste. There is no general scientific substantiation or clinical studies on this issue. What is important is the systematic use of dental floss.

Direct indications for the use of flosses are:

crowding of the teeth;
placement of aproximal fillings;
periodontal disease;
the presence of any fixed orthodontic (braces), orthopedic (crowns, dentures) constructions.

To maintain the health of teeth and gums, hygienic cleaning should be performed 2 times, daily, morning and evening. Using a floss is part of oral hygiene. This tool finishes the job where you can’t reach with a brush. Dental floss is shown to everyone, without restrictions on age, features of the structure of the dentoalveolar system. Need floss to milk, permanent, artificial teeth (crowns, dentures).

Advantages of dental floss

prevention of caries on the contact surface of enamel;
prevention of gingivitis;
elimination of bad odor caused by plaque, food particles between the teeth;
strengthening of enamel (use of fluoridated flosses).

Contraindications

Flossing is contraindicated in periodontal diseases (periodontitis, periodontal disease), acute infection in the mouth. A limitation is the intolerance of materials, components from which flosses are made. Another obstacle is aproximal fillings of insufficient quality. In such situations, it is necessary to contact a dentist to replace the restoration.

How to use: instructions

To use dental floss most effectively, it is necessary to know the correct cleaning technology:

Pull out a part of the floss with a length of 45-60 cm. This length is sufficient for a reliable fixation of the floss on the fingers. Also, each dental unit is treated with a new part, so it is more convenient to initially take a floss longer.
Twist the ends of the thread on the index or middle fingers of the hands. Make a few turns, leaving a stretched part of about 3 cm long between the thumbs. This part will be used to clean the contact surfaces.

Gently insert the floss into the interdental space. After a few light progressive movements, the thread is wound up just below the gingival margin. Gently move it up and down between the contact surfaces, around the tooth, slightly penetrating under the marginal zone. Do not rub or pull the thread, so as not to damage the mucosa, gingival tissue.
For all neighboring teeth repeat the same procedure. Cleaning begins with the upper tooth row, then clean the lower. Move from the central incisors to the edges, in one and the other direction. To develop a habit, it is necessary to clean the segments on the same principle each time.
Moving to the next tooth, shift the floss, using a new, clean part. To do this, move the fingers by rewinding the used segment.
After cleaning, rinse the mouth with warm water or a special product. This will get rid of food particles, plaque residue, provide fresh breath.

Do not make cutting movements or wind the thread deep under the gum, avoiding damage to the gingival attachment. When done correctly, there is no discomfort or soreness. After treating the tooth row, the used floss is discarded. Repeated use will provoke the spread of pathogens in the oral cavity, inflammation and other problems.

The first few days after using the floss, the gums may bleed slightly. With regular cleaning, bleeding stops on its own. But if the hygiene constantly reveals bleeding gums, it is necessary to go to the dentist for examination, diagnosis.

How to floss with braces

For braces there are superflosses with rigid tips, cleaning not only the contact surfaces of the enamel, but also the elements of the corrective equipment. They easily go over the areas above/below the arch, around the locks. The floss is inserted over the arch into the interdental space. When the thread has taken the correct position, soft up-and-down movements are performed to clean the enamel surfaces. All other adjacent surfaces of the dental units are cleaned in the same way. The floss is used after cleaning with a brush, a brush pick. A special orthodontic threader will facilitate threading over the wire.

Types

Modern threads are made of silk or polymer fibers (kapron, nylon, Teflon, acetate). Sell floss in special cassettes (from 10 to 100 m), providing hygienic storage, comfortable winding off the required length, thanks to the cutting edge under the lid.

Also manufacturers offer threads on the holder (flosser, dental machine). They sell them in several units in a package. Some people opt for a flosser, because its use eliminates contact between hands and oral mucosa, facilitates care for eighth molars (wisdom teeth).

What are the differences between flossers

There are different types of floss on sale. Waxed, not waxed, impregnated with silver, menthol, herbal extracts, which is indicated on the package. Flosses are distinguished by cross-section, thickness, material, processing.

According to the shape of the cross-section

Round – recommended for large gaps between the teeth;
flat floss – qualitatively eliminates deposits in the case of crowded teeth, tight contact points;
Ribbon – for fissures, diastemas.

Surface treatment

Waxed – treated with a thin layer of wax floss easily glide in the interdental space, safe, suitable for gum disease, do not delaminate, simplify care;
not waxed – delaminate into fibers during use, abrasive surface better copes with cleaning.

The difference between waxed and non-waxed floss is that the first one penetrates between the teeth more easily, and the second one cleans the surface better.

By material

Nylon floss – durable, strong, quality cleaning of contact surfaces, which makes it one of the most popular;
silk floss – characterized by low mechanical tensile strength, so they are produced less and less;
kapron – reliable, strong, but less plastic than nylon models;
acetate – elastic, soft, similar in characteristics to silk threads;
Teflon – have the lowest coefficient of friction, quickly cope with dental deposits, the most expensive of all analogs.

All types of flosses provide a similar effect. And systematic, proper use of dental floss is the most important brand, model or price.

How to choose

There are several main parameters by which to choose floss for teeth. The first is the size. The wider the interdental space, the larger the diameter of the floss is needed. The second thing to pay attention to is the material, more precisely the surface treatment. Beginners are better to choose a waxed thread, as it does not delaminate, unobstructed enters the interdental space, facilitates care. But flosses without waxing are better at removing deposits from hard-to-reach places. People with braces, dentures should choose special models (superflosses), which perfectly cope with both cleaning between the teeth, and care for the elements of orthodontic or orthopedic system.

Many patients are interested in what can replace dental floss. A good alternative is a flosser, it is easy to use, you do not need to keep track of the length of the floss, it is easier to care for the outermost teeth in the row. Irrigator better copes with cleaning the gum furrow, pathological pockets, performs hydromassage of the gums, but so qualitatively as floss to clean the interdental spaces is not able to.

What to do if the floss gets stuck

If the floss gets stuck between the teeth, you need to determine the cause. This happens if the size is incorrectly selected, in the presence of cracks, chips on the contact surface of the enamel or caries in this area. Another reason – tartar between the teeth, which floss clings to, tears, as a result – stuck.

To pull out the stuck thread should:

rinse your mouth vigorously with water;
rinse the interdental space with an irrigator;
use a new thread to remove the problematic piece;
use tweezers.

If these methods did not help, you should consult a doctor. Do not use needles, toothpicks, fishing line, fork tines and other sharp objects. This can cause serious injury. The dentist will extract the stuck piece quickly, without problems, using special tools.