Do you floss your teeth? Here's the proper way to do it
- on September 30, 2011
OK, you brush your teeth each day, maybe even twice a day as recommended. But do you floss?
Flossing between your teeth removes food residue and plaque from where your tooth brush can't reach. It also helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. Who knew?
So, what's the proper way to do it?
The American Dental Hygienist Association offers these tips:
- Wind 18 inches of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1-inch to 2-inch length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
- Keep a 1-inch to 2-inch length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.
- Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. Do not snap floss between your teeth. Contour floss around the side of the tooth.
- Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss.
It just takes a minute or two to complete the job.