Floss how long

If you use regular floss, give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to floss your teeth. Instead of using waxed floss, other options that work well for flossing if you have braces include using a Waterpik , a type of water flosser, or a floss threader , a small tool that helps you thread floss under your braces. Both can save you time with flossing. Knowing the right time to floss also contributes to good oral health. Some people have a routine of brushing their teeth first and then flossing.

Flossing helps lift and release food and plaque stuck in between your teeth, while brushing removes these particles from your mouth. If you brush first and floss afterward, food and plaque remains in your mouth until the next time you brush. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once per day and brushing twice per day. Dental floss comes in many varieties. Which type of floss is best for you depends on your preferences, the amount of space in between your teeth, and whether you have braces or bridges.

Some dental floss is easier to use in wider spaces, whereas other types of floss are easier to use in tighter spaces. Think of your tooth having four parts, the gum line, the front, the back and the roof. When brushing make sure to clean all four areas using a circular motion at a 45 degree angle. Pay special attention to your gum line, having healthy gums is just as important as having healthy teeth. Yes, the fluoride commonly found in toothpaste is extremely healthy. It can strengthen enamel and kill bacteria.

As mentioned, the debate over the benefits of flossing are ongoing. Most dentists and orthodontists strongly recommend flossing at least once a day. Water flossing is a popular alternative but beware, nothing is as effective as the original string. Similar to most toothpaste, Listerine is filled with fluoride. Listerine also kills the germs and bacteria that cause bad breath. This technique applies to any type of floss: waxed, unwaxed, spongy floss or dental tape.

Just make sure that you floss all your teeth, including the back side of the very last tooth on the left, right, top and bottom of your mouth. As everyone who brushes and flosses their teeth knows, your back teeth are harder to reach and to keep clean than your front teeth.

The back teeth are designed with grooves and ridges that help you to chew food, but the down side is that these grooves and ridges can also collect tiny food particles, which can increase the risk of cavities and bacteria in plaque, which in turn can lead to gum disease. Bacteria can convert fermenting carbohydrates which are sugars and are found in cooked starchy foods into plaque within 20 minutes.

Be sure to clean around the back teeth with your toothbrush and dental floss every day. Poor flossing technique can result in complications, and it's important to be thorough yet gentle, especially when flossing with an electric flosser. Be sure you understand how to use it. You can always ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you if you are uncertain.

Another dentist pro tip: floss just before bed to remove any remnants of food as well as resetting the bacteria clock when your teeth and gums are most vulnerable. The right type of floss for you depends on the amount of space between your teeth. Waxed floss works best in tight spaces and dental tape—which is wider and flatter—helps cover larger spaces between teeth. Dentists recommend specialty tools like a floss threader or soft picks if you have a bridge or permanent retainer.

People with sensitive gums can also try a water flosser. The friction of flossing and brushing after flossing helps to break up plaque, but dentists say simply winding the floss a bit as you work up the line of teeth can combat the risk of bacteria transport. In light of all the warnings about over flossing and flossing too harshly, it seems logical that blood would be a sure sign to back off. Dentists advise that rather than being a sign to stop flossing, bleeding gums should be a sign that you need to floss more consistently the right way.

Here are five easy steps to get it right, every day. Step 2: Wind the floss around your thumb and pointer on each hand until you have about a two-inch section of floss between your fingers. Step 3: Gently slide the section of floss between your teeth, rocking a slight pressure back and forth for tight spaces. Step 4: Curve the floss into a C-shape around each tooth and slide it along the side of the tooth away from the gumline. Step 5: Before flossing the next tooth, wind the floss more tightly in one hand while loosening it in the other, so you approach the next tooth with a fresh section of floss.