Facts about flossing

How important is flossing? According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), flossing is the single most important weapon against plaque.

Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and decrease the chance of getting gum disease.

Most people cite lack of time as a reason for not flossing. However, the AGD says flossing even two or three times a week has its benefits and is far better than not flossing at all.

Choosing your floss

Whether waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, wide or regular size, floss of any type helps clean and remove plaque. Here are some tips about the characteristics of different types of flosses:

• Wide floss, also known as dental tape, may be a better choice for people with bridgework. Dental tape also is recommended when people have wider-than-average space between their teeth.
• Waxed floss can be easier to slide between closely spaced teeth.
• Unwaxed floss will squeak against cleaned teeth, indicating plaque has been removed.
• Bonded unwaxed floss does not fray as easily as regular unwaxed floss, but does tear more than waxed floss.

Which type you use depends upon your mouth, personal preference and dentist's recommendations.

Do not substitute waterpicks for brushing and flossing. Unlike flossing, waterpicks do not remove plaque. They are effective for people who have orthodontic braces, which may retain food in areas a toothbrush cannot reach.

How to floss

• Break off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.
• Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes used.
• Hold the floss tightly (without any slack) between your two hands, with about an inch of floss between them. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion.
• When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.
• Hold the floss against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.

Repeat this technique on all of your teeth, including the teeth in back.