How To Floss

Flossing

Studies say that only 50-80% of adults floss their teeth daily.  Getting into the habit of doing it regularly makes it pretty simple.  With about 18 inches of floss wrapped around your fingers, your thumb and index fingers can guide the floss between the teeth and wrap it around each tooth beyond where they contact.  It can be guided under the gum tissues and moved up and down.  When you move on the next tooth contact position, use a fresh part of the floss.

If your gums bleed initially, this usually stops after doing it for a few days.  If you floss before you brush, then the fluoride in your toothpaste will get in between your teeth and be able to penetrate and protect the already cleaned sides of the teeth.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Why Do Powered Toothbrushes Have Timers?

Have you noticed that one of the marketing advantages of powered toothbrushes is that they have built-in timers?  They do because TIME SPENT and ATTENTION TO TECHNIQUE  are more important than how hard you brush.

Brushing Routine

Most of the timers are two minutes in length, which is the universally recommended amount of time to spend on the task.  The best ones are divided into four 30 second intervals, so that you spend equal amounts of time on each quarter of your mouth.  That's because human beings tend to spend more time at the beginning and less time at the end of their normal brushing routine.  Of course, you can do it with a manual brush also, watching the clock at the same time.

Here's a challenge:  time yourself when you brush next time, and see how long it takes you to do it.  The best bet is that it will be less than two minutes.  The time after that, set a timer and spend an entire two minutes brushing all over, and you will realize how much more thorough you have been.  Remember that the brush does the work and toothpaste only provides some detergent action and tastes good.  Once you have the right amount of time down, then we'll discuss specific technique.  Suffice it to say, in two minutes you could actually brush one tooth at a time and get it all done!

Flossing

One more thing: if you  are using a toothpaste that contains fluoride, FLOSS FIRST, so the fluoride in the paste has a better chance of reaching in between your teeth.


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Flossing for a Seriously Clean Smile

Brushing Alone Is Not Enough

The American Dental Hygienists Association provides the following steps to having a seriously clean smile.  Flossing is a necessity when it comes to proper dental hygiene.  Merely brushing the teeth is not enough to reach all of those spots in between the teeth.  When people do not floss, plaque can build up in these areas, causing a myriad of dental issues.  However, flossing incorrectly is just as bad as not flossing at all. If the floss is serving no purpose, then the mission has been defeated.

Flossing Techniques

There are two types of floss available:  nylon and PTFE (Colgate Oral and Dental Health Resource Center).  Colgate notes that while both of these types are effective, PTFE is a bit more expensive, but it is also more durable.  It is recommended that 18 inches of floss is used for these purposes.  The floss should be held taut between the thumb and index finger on both hands.  Approximately one to two inches of floss should be left in between the hands.  Each tooth must be flossed individually.  Using a zigzag motion, bring that one to two inches of floss in between each and every tooth to remove plaque and other particles that have become lodged in there.  As individuals move between the teeth, they should use a new, clean, fresh section of floss for each tooth.  Merely flossing with the same piece over and over again will simply redistribute the plaque and materials throughout the mouth.  After the sections between each tooth are finished, the floss should be used to slide up and down the surface of the tooth and in between the gum line.  After this process is done, the flossing is finished.

How long it takes depends. Rushing through it is a bad idea, as it will provide a half-done job.  Generally though, it takes several minutes to accomplish.  As individuals become more and more familiar with the techniques, the necessary time to floss will likely start to decrease.  Once individuals know the techniques for flossing their teeth, they should also be aware of how frequently this process must occur. According to Know Your Teeth, it is best to floss at least once a day.  It does not really matter if people choose to floss before or after they brush, according to the American Dental Association. However, they should consider the fact that flossing can help to loosen up some of the particles on the teeth, thereby possibly allowing for a more thorough brushing.  One of the best ways to truly know how to floss is by having a professional demonstrate the technique. Interested parties should ask their dentists for a demonstration at the next appointment.

Flossing With Braces On

People who have braces should inquire with their orthodontist as to how to floss with braces on. Generally, the floss will have to be threaded underneath the wire, so practice is necessary, and parents will usually need to help children with this process for at least the first few times.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309