Look for the American Dental Association (ADA) logo on the packaging when you’re choosing dental floss to ensure it’s safe to use. It’s okay if you accidentally use a shorter piece of floss, but it may be a little tougher to hold onto when you floss your back teeth. Wash your hands before you start flossing so germs and bacteria don’t get in your mouth.
Use a length of floss that’s easy for you to maneuver in your mouth. If you have a hard time flossing with a 1 in (2. 5 cm) section, then try pulling 2–3 inches (5. 1–7. 6 cm) of floss taut instead.
Be careful not to forcefully push the floss up since you could hurt your gums or make them bleed.
Avoid pushing the floss into your gums so far that it hurts.
If you haven’t flossed in a while, it’s completely normal for your gums to bleed a little bit. After a few days of consistent flossing, the bleeding will go away. [8] X Research source Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020. If you’re still bleeding after 3–5 days of flossing, talk to a dentist to see if you’re dealing with any other gum issues. [9] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source If you can still feel food or debris stuck between your teeth, switch to a fresh section of floss and clean that area again.
If you have trouble reaching the teeth in the back of your mouth, secure your floss into a floss holder. Hold onto the handle so you can reach your molars. Follow the same pattern each time you floss your teeth to make sure you don’t miss any spots. When you finish flossing, ball it up and toss it in the trash.
If you have trouble slipping the floss between the wire and your teeth, loop it through a floss threader first. Then, feed the floss threader under the wire and pull it through with the floss. If you can’t get standard floss between your teeth, try using an orthodontic flosser that has a narrow tip on the end. Guide the tip under your braces wire to remove plaque and food debris. After you finish flossing, brush your teeth to clean off any plaque you loosened up.
Floss picks usually have a pointed end at the bottom of the handle that you can use to pick out food stuck between your teeth.
Avoid forcing the brush between your teeth since it could be painful.
Many experts say that you can’t use water flossers in place of brushing and flossing since they remove all the plaque and buildup. Try using them in addition to your regular flossing routine or in a pinch if you don’t have floss available. [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
If you ever get food caught in your teeth, floss right afterward to remove it.
