- Types of dental floss
- How to floss with an orthodontic appliance
- Other tips for a clean and healthy smile
The use of dental floss is very important to remove food debris and plaque where the brush does not reach easily, as between the teeth and the gums, preventing the development of diseases such as gingivitis and cavities.
This habit should be followed daily, at least 1 or 2 times a day, however, the ideal would be to pass after all the main meals. In addition, the time of use can also vary between before or after brushing, because if the wire is passed correctly, the result will always be beneficial for the health of the mouth.
To correctly floss, the following steps are guided:
1. Wrap the ends around the middle fingers, after separating about 40 cm of thread;
2. Insert the wire between the teeth, using the support of the index and thumb fingers, as in the figure below:
3. Pass the wire through each tooth, embracing it in a C-shaped movement, as shown below. Press on one side and then the other, and repeat the process 2 times for each side, on all teeth.
4. Also pass the wire gently at the base of the tooth, which is important to remove the impurities infiltrated between the tooth and the gum;
5. Remove the wire, in a backward movement, to take the rest of the dirt;
6. Prefer to use a new part of the wire for each region to be cleaned, so that bacteria and plaque remains do not pass from one tooth to the other.
Do not use too much force to introduce the wire, so that it does not hurt. In addition, if the gums are often swollen or bleeding, it may be a sign of gingivitis, so it is important to continue performing oral hygiene with the wire, brushing and rinsing, and schedule an appointment with the dentist.
Types of dental floss
The main types of dental floss sold in pharmacies or supermarkets are:
- Multiple filament yarn: it is the most traditional, and there are several versions, with flavor, for example. Single filament yarn: it is thinner and flatter, with greater resistance, which prevents it from breaking or fraying during use, and is more suitable for people with teeth closer together who have more difficulty using the yarn. Super floss yarn: it is a yarn that has a firmer and more flexible part, another thicker and more spongy and one last with the normal yarn. It adapts to the opening of the teeth, being indicated for those who have larger spaces between the teeth or people who use orthodontic appliance and bridges.
Each person can adapt better to a type of dental floss and, therefore, there is no one that is more recommended than the other. There are several brands that produce dental floss, such as Colgate, Oral B, Sanifill or Sensodyne, for example, and the price varies between about R $ 5.00 and R $ 20.00 reais, depending on each type and location. sells.
How to floss with an orthodontic appliance
Whoever uses an orthodontic appliance must be very careful with cleaning the mouth, as the appliance retains many food scraps, so floss should also be used about 2 times a day.
To use the dental floss, you must first pass the floss through the inside of the arch that connects the brackets , as in the photo below, to then hold the floss with both hands, wrap the ends with your fingers and do the entire procedure explained in step-by-step, repeating the process for each tooth.
As the dental floss is soft, to facilitate the passage of the dental floss behind the appliance, there is the Dental Floss, which is a harder tip, made of silicone, which helps guide the dental floss to the desired region. This is the sole function of the flosser, since then cleaning between the teeth is normally done with dental floss.
The Super floss wire also facilitates the cleaning of the teeth, as the firmer rod helps a more practical passage behind the arch of the appliance, and then clean normally with the spongy or thinner wire parts.
Other tips for a clean and healthy smile
In addition to daily flossing, to keep your mouth clean, free from disease and stains, it is important to follow some tips, such as:
- Brush your teeth with a soft bristle brush, at least 2 times a day, and always before bed. Also check out how to brush your teeth better; Clean your tongue after brushing, using a brush or tongue cleaner to take impurities from the inside to the tip; Consult with the dentist every 6 months or 1 year to perform a deeper cleaning and evaluation of the health of the mouth; Avoid foods rich in sugar, as they stimulate the formation of cavities.
It is also important to remember that those who use dentures or prostheses should also be careful to clean and brush them daily and, in addition, they must be well adapted to the mouth, to avoid the accumulation of plaque and the formation of wounds.
