FLOSSING
What
is the Right Way to Floss?
Proper flossing
removes plaque
and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach — under the
gumline
and between your teeth. Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay
and gum disease,
daily flossing is highly recommended.
To
receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
- Starting
with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle
finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with - Holding
the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently
up-and-down between your teeth - Gently
curve the floss around the base of each tooth,
making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as
this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue - Use
clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth - To
remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up
and away from the teeth
What
Type of Floss Should I Use?
There are two types of floss from which to choose:
- Nylon
(or multifilament) floss - PTFE
(monofilament) floss
Nylon
floss is available waxed and unwaxed, and in a variety of flavors. Because this
type of floss is composed of many strands of nylon, it may sometimes tear or
shred, especially between teeth with tight contact points. While more
expensive, single filament (PTFE) floss slides easily between teeth, even those
with tight spaces between teeth, and is virtually shred-resistant. When used
properly, both types of floss are excellent at removing plaque and debris.
How
do I floss under my bridge?
You
will need one of the following:
· Super Floss
· Floss Threader and floss
Instructions
1. Measure approximately 18 inches of the super floss and cut
it from the dispenser. This is an average length of floss. If you find it is
too difficult to grasp while flossing, increase the length. Super floss is a
special kind of dental floss that is stiff on one end making it easy to thread
under a dental bridge and has a fuzzy section designed to specifically remove
plaque.
Thread
the super floss onto the floss threader by passing the stiff end through the
loop. Leave the floss on one side about twice as long as the other side for
grasping.
1. Place the stiff end of the threaded flosser between the gum line and the
dental bridge and then carefully pull until the floss comes between your teeth
and your dental bridge.
2. Remove the floss threader from your mouth
and repeat the steps until you completely floss the dental bridge.
Clinical research
studies now confirm the Waterpik® Water
Flosser is the easy and more effective way to floss.
Recent studies show
the Water Flosser is up to 50% more effective than traditional dental floss for
reducing gingivitis and improving gum health. Whether using a manual or sonic powered toothbrush,
adding the Water Flosser has consistently provided significantly better
reductions in plaque and gingivitis.
Water Pik’s impressive
record for safety and effectiveness has been evaluated in more than 55
published clinical studies at 25 independent and university-based research
centers. The Waterpik Water Flosser is clinically proven to provide significant
oral health benefits to even those with braces, implants, crowns, bridges, and
diabetes.
For more information
visit: http://www.waterpik.com/
Philips Sonicare AirFloss uses compressed air to accelerate microdroplets of water (or mouth rinse) in-between teeth. The microdroplets disrupt and remove plaque in-between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. While Sonicare AirFloss has not been designed to directly replace floss in all aspects (e.g. removal of large debris from in-between teeth) it is an excellent alternative for daily interproximal cleaning. Philips Sonicare AirFloss has been proven to remove up to 99% more plaque in-between teeth than brushing alone with a manual toothbrush.
For
more information visit: http://www.usa.philips.com/c/airfloss/287417/cat/en/